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Collectible movie and
TV posters
are on sale,
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Jennifer Garner turns the world
on with her smile, before flapping her
arms and flying away.
13 Going on 30
Review written by: Alex Sandell
A critic could have a lot of fun writing a negative review of 13 Going on 30. There are so many things in the film worthy of ridicule that it's nearly impossible to resist the temptation to tear the flick a new asshole for simply existing. But despite its many shortcomings, the movie is a hell of a lot of fun. Despite its wellspring of negatives, the movie puts a big goofy grin on your face and a dorky little skip in your step (okay, maybe you won't actually find yourself doing any skipping). Despite everything that works against it; the movie that you should love to hate turns out to be 2004's film you'll hate to love.
A lot of the credit for this goes to the bubbly Jennifer Garner, who gives one of the most enjoyable comedic performances in years and keeps the movie feeling fresh and sweet even when it should become bogged down in its own series of clichés. The tough chick from Alias and Daredevil is gone and one of the most talented comedic actresses to grace the silver screen has taken her place. Jennifer Garner's performance is sweet, bouncy, innocent and absolutely irresistible.
Garner plays Jenna Rink, a character who wakes up 15 or 16 years after wishing she was "30, flirty and successful." Jenna gets what she asks for, but there's a catch: the last thing she can remember is sitting in the closet and making her wish. She has no idea how she's gotten as far as she has. She doesn't know why there's a naked guy in her apartment (it's her dorky hockey playing boyfriend), or what that nagging music is (it's her cell phone).
Jenna becomes overwhelmed with this weird "future" world and turns to her best friend, Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo) for support. For Matt (and the rest of the world) life went on after Jenna's wish. He's 30 years old and is guessing Jenna's weird amnesiac behavior is due to the ingestion of some sort of drug. Jenna just can't believe her chubby childhood pal turned into the Marlon Brando-ish dude in a CBGB's T-Shirt standing before her. She has no idea that she lost touch with her friend a decade and a half ago, on her 13th birthday.
The chemistry between Ruffalo and Garner is another reason this movie floats right through scenes where it should sink. The two flesh out their thinly written characters and turn cardboard into flesh and blood. By the end of the film, you're buying into everything they're selling you (other than that annoying "Thriller" dance sequence and the Fedex product placements); as implausible as all of it is. Suddenly, you have a trite romance feeling eerily close to magic. Watching the rekindling of a childhood crush nearly makes you melt.
This is a feel good movie that actually makes you feel good. Everyone involved seems to be having so much fun on the screen that they work their way into your heart. Their joy is contagious, and you can't help but sit back and go with it.
On a scale of 1-10?
7
What does this rating mean? Everyone rates things differently. Your "5" could be my "7," or vice-versa. Find out what MY rating means by clicking here.
Agree? Disagree? Feeling bored and wanna write a letter that you'll probably never get a response to? Email me at alex@juicycerebellum.com
COMING SOON - Reviews of Van Helsing, Troy and other stuff!
