13 Going on 30
Release Date:
April 23, 2004
On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 22/92 |
David Mumpower |
Jennifer Garner is going to be a star in this industry. I mean a Sandra Bullock-level star. |
| 30/48 |
Les Winan |
Fairly formulaic romantic comedy made watchable by the performance of Jennifer Garner and the mere presence of Mark Ruffalo. |
| 48/126 |
Kim Hollis |
Jennifer Garner is charming as all get out in this tale of a teenager in a 30-year-old's body. |
It's a premise to which every female from age ten to 100 can relate. A young girl, tired of the rules, restrictions and immaturity that come with being a teenager, wishes that should could be a grown-up. The next morning, she awakens to find herself in a 30-year-old woman's body, but with all the same awkward feelings that she should have at her rightful age.
Although early reports had Renée Zellweger attached to star in this Revolution Studios project, white hot Jennifer Garner of Alias was eventually selected for the part. This choice is looking to have been incredibly savvy, as the previews and trailers are the film are simply a blast. Garner has fully embraced the role of a young girl in a body that just doesn't quite fit her, and she carries off both the physical humor and the amusing dialogue with an infectious gleefulness.
This same story has been told many times before, most notably in the Academy Award-nominated Big, starring Tom Hanks. His character grew up despite the world around him staying exactly the same. 13 Going on 30 will deviate from that path a bit as not only does Garner's character jump forward 17 years, but so does everyone around her, including the sweet boy next door, portrayed by You Can Count on Me's Mark Ruffalo.
The film's director, Gary Winick, knows a little something about capturing the awkwardness and discomfort of the teen years as his previous outing was Tadpole, a film about a teen boy who falls in love with his stepmother.
13 Going on 30 feels very similar in tone to 2003's Freaky Friday, another movie that was solidly aimed at a young female audience. With Garner in the starring role, an even more expanded demographic should be captured, as her appeal lies with the 25-45 age group most primarily. If we take this into consideration as well as the fact that the trailers are receiving extremely positive reactions, and this film could be the one to break the actress even more into the mainstream than she is already. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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