Image Courtesy of Amazon.com
Director:
Gary Winick
Cast:
Jennifer Garner …. Jenna Rink
Mark Ruffalo …. Matt Flamhaff
Judy Greer …. Lucy Wyman
Andy Serkis …. Richard Kneeland
Kathy Baker …. Bev Rink
Phil Reeves …. Wayne Rink
Samuel Ball …. Alex Carlson
Marcia DeBonis …. Arlene
Christa B. Allen …. Young Jenna
Sean Marquette …. Young Matt
The Movie
In the days before Jennifer Garner gave birth to Ben Affleck’s demon seed, she was a rising actress trying to transition from television star to action star. With the hit spy thriller Alias propelling her into the national spotlight, Garner would capitalize on a role in Daredevil to try and vault on to the A-list. While her career has been in a bit of a standstill, culminating with 2005’s attempt at capitalizing on Daredevil with the massive flop Elektra. But before then, she did have a hit with 13 Going On 30.
Garner stars as Jenna Rink in the female version of the Tom Hanks vehicle Big. Jenna, played as a thirteen year old by Christa Allen, is a young girl who dreams of being popular despite her awkward teen years. With some magic dust from her friend Matt (played at 13 by Sean Marquette and as an adult by Mark Ruffalo), thirteen year old Jenna gets transported into the body of her 30 year old counterpart, fast forwarded into the future of the life she wanted. From there she has to deal with being a child in an adult’s world, dealing with the sort of high-powered job and life she had always wanted.
But things have changed, as her now former best friend Matt drifted away through the years. From here it’s a combination of Big and a romantic comedy, as Jenna learns lessons about life and love. Mix in some 80s style dance sequences and a rather unique acting performance from Jennifer Garner into a delightful little comedy.
And for Garner, it’s a rather unique performance. Stuck in the mire of being an action hero, she lets loose with a lot of great comic timing and is a delight on the screen. It takes a lot of range for this sort of role and Garner shows a pleasant mixture of dramatic and comedic chops. There’s a certain amount of chemistry with her and Ruffalo as well; it’s just enough to work, but not extremely sexual.
And the film is pleasant enough, but falls flat a couple times due to some painfully awkward scenes (one in particular in which adult Jenna hits on a 13 year old), as well as certain metaphysical questions that aren’t answered. This aside, it’s still a cute (if uncertain) romantic comedy.
Score : 7.5 / 10
The Video
Presented in a widescreen format with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, 13 Going on 30 once again has a great transfer.
The Audio
Coming loud and clear in a Dolby Digital 5.1 format, the film sounds great too.
The Extras
Deleted scenes are included from the first edition.
Fashion Flashback: Into the ’80’s is a look at the reemergence of 1980s fashion back into the mainstream as a trend, as the fashion did creep back into the mainstream in a retro-style fashion in bits and pieces. From fashion to make up and hair styling, it’s an interesting look from a decade many would rather forget.
Alternate Beginning & Alternate Ending is an alternate beginning and close to the film that wasn’t included in the first version. They present the same basic plot elements to establish the beginning and end of the story, just in a slightly different way.
Blooper reel is the same exact blooper reel from a prior release.
“I Was a Teenage Geek” is a featurette that looks back at the cast in the 1980s and how difficult& awkward some of them were. It’s a unique look back in the time machine at the cast, albeit it is lifted from the first edition of the film.
“The Making of a Teen Dream” is a featurette focusing on the creative aspects of the film. Also lifted from the first edition.
Music videos are included, Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield” and Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.” Both were included in the original release of 13 Going On 30
The 80’s Outfit Challenge is a game, included in the first version, in which you get to dress the characters.
Then and Now is a matching game, also included in the first version, in which you match the 80s pop culture item with its modern equivalent.
Score : 6 / 10
