Customer Reviews

13 Going on 30 (Fun & Flirty Edition)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Despite the unoriginal premise (the movie Big recast with a woman), 13 Going on 30 is a very entertaining movie and this is due in large part to its star, Jennifer Garner, who brings to her role loads of charm. This movie is the perfect vehicle for the actress because it allows her to break away from the action hero persona that she cultivated with the T.V. show Alias and Daredevil and prove that she can do a romantic comedy.

Garner, with her warm, disarming smile has a wholesome, girl-next-door quality that is quite endearing. She's beautiful but not in an unattainable way. She also has natural comedic ability, for example, in one scene, Jenna livens up her magazine's boring party with an impromptu dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," inspiring others to get up and dance as well. Garner also has a very expressive face that is perfect for the broad comedy of this movie. She is willing to take risks and make fun of herself. She is also willing to put herself out there and is not afraid to appear goofy and this only makes her that much more appealing.

13 Going On 30 is the victim of the dreaded double dip. If you already own the Special Edition version of the movie, the two new extras hardly warrant a re-purchase. Also, if you already own the previous edition you might want to hold onto it as the audio commentary by director Gary Winick and the commentary by producers Gina Matthews, Donna Arkoff-Roth, and Susan Arnold is not on this edition.

New to this edition is "Fashion Flashback: Into the 1980s" that features teen models gushing about how much they love the "retro" look of the `80s. It tells you what to look for and where to track down "authentic" clothes of that era.

"Making of a Teen Dream" takes us through the making of the movie in a fun, breezy way that is customary of most press kit type featurettes. The cast speak admiringly about each other in this self-congratulatory extra.

There is a "Bloopers" reel, a collection of blown lines and other assorted goofs that are quite cute.

Also included are two music videos, one for Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" and another for "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield that allows you to immerse yourself in pure `80s cheese.

The most enjoyable extra is "I Was A Teenage Geek." The cast talk about what they were like in the `80s. Everyone tells amusing stories of what they were doing in high school with photos of what they looked like at the time.

There is also an "Alternate Beginning and Ending" that features different actors playing Jenna and Matt when they were kids. The scene is about the same length as what is in the movie but is edited differently. We get more detail on Jenna's desire to be one of the popular girls. Thankfully, these were not used.

Finally, there are 15 deleted scenes with more footage of Jenna and Matt at the magazine party and so on. These scenes flesh out the relationships between the characters.

This is an absolutely charming and delightful comedy with an excellent cast. Do not, however, see this film unless you are ready to suspend disbelief. After all, the premise of this film is that a distressed thirteen year old girl suddenly finds herself propelled into the future and into the body of her thirty year old self.

Jenna Rink is a typical teenager, a little gawky, a little insecure. She pals around with her uncool best friend, Matt Flamhaff, but, at the same time, is trying to make it into the cool six chicks clique at her school, a nasty little group of teenage hotties who use Jenna for what they can get from her. They agree to come to her thirteenth birthday party, if she will do a class report for their leader. She agrees.

Matt is the first guest to arrive, and he gives her a little, doll sized dream house that he has made for her, replete with magic dust. When the other guests arrive, they soon depart with the needed report in hand, after playing a very mean trick on Jenna and leaving her desolate. A set of circumstances causes the magic dust to fall upon Jenna, just as she makes a wish that finds hers transported into the future and into the body of her thirty year old self.

Jenna discovers that she now has every thing for which she had dreamed when she was thirteen. She also discovers how she has changed, and it is not a change for the better. She turns to Matt, whose friendship, she is shocked to find, has been lost somewhere along the way. Jenna then sets about putting to right what went wrong. Of course, there are any number of humorous incidents that arise out Jenna's current situation.

Jennifer Garner is sensational as a thirteen year old girl trapped in the body of a thirty year old woman. She infuses the role with just the right amount of innocence and joyous abandonment that teenagers often exude. Kittenish and coltish all at once, her charm is infectious. Mark Ruffalo is perfectly cast as the grown-up Matt. He exudes sensitivity and niceness, all rolled into one very compelling package. One cannot help but like both characters tremendously.

This is an entertaining film for those who enjoy light-hearted fantasy films. This film has been compared to the film, "Big", and while there are some similarities between the two, this film stands on its own two feet and deserves its own accolades. Deft direction by Gary Winnick and excellent performances by the entire cast make this film a comedic gem to be enjoyed by those who like a charmingly realized film.

When this film came out back in 2004, I felt it was a fantastic romantic comedy. Romantic, charming and enjoyable.

With two great performances by Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, there were many things that made this film so enjoyable. From the beautiful locations the film was shot in New York, a funny but touching storyline but also that 80's style, may it be the clothing or the music of that time and with one of the most memorable dance scenes in a film with everyone jamming to Michael Jackson's "Thriller", "13 going on 30' is all out fun!

Here we are five years later and with two DVD releases, the popular romantic comedy will now be released on Blu-ray. So, I'm sure many of you who owned a previous version of the film on DVD maybe wondering, if this Blu-ray release is worth it? Read on!


VIDEO & AUDIO:

"13 going on 30' is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:85:1). Video quality is clean and the film looks very good. But picture quality is not super colorful in terms of eye popping visuals but overall, this film looks even greater on Blu-ray. Personally, I think this is the test transfer we will probably see of this film for years to come. Also, with so much outdoor shots featuring both Garner and Ruffalo with their characters in different parts of New York City, Blu-ray definitely enhances the city compared to the DVD version.

As for the audio, audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD for English, French and Portuguese and 5.1 Dolby Digital for the other language tracks. The film is primarily dialogue and I don't recall hearing any uses of the rear channels for any outdoor ambiance for audio. The music definitely comes out clear and pronounced and livens up the room.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"13 going on 30' is literally packed with special features. Many of these were featured on the "Fun & Flirty Version" DVD but one featurette is exclusive to Blu-ray:
# Director's Commentary - This commentary features Director Gary Winick. Winick is one of those director's that you would love to hear his commentary because he expresses his true emotion of his feelings of the film, which parts of the film he would love to have reshot and really, getting good insight on the film. Especially the "Thriller" dance scene to the final ending.
# Producers Commentary - This commentary features Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth and Gina Matthews. Each of these three women giving their tidbits of the film, working with Director Gary Winick and working with the talent.
# Alternate Beginning and Alternate Ending - This was surprising because the characters that played Jenna and Matt were different actors and I am so glad this beginning and ending was not used in the final cut of the film.
# Deleted Scenes - A total of 18 deleted scenes featured.
# Blooper Reel - This is a fun blooper reel of the whole cast.
# The Making of a Teen Dream - This was the original featurette featured on the DVD versions. This was all about the making of the film and interviews with the director, producers and cast.
# Making of a Teen Dream: Another Take - This is exclusive to the Blu-ray and features more content such as Jennifer Garner actually having to do a slumber party with the 13-year-olds as part of her research for her character.
# I Was a Teenage Geek Featurette - This interview features the main actors and actresses of the film talking about their high school life with high school photos and all.
# 1980s "Fashion Flashback" Featurette - This is more or less a fashion flashback photoshoot and dressing up people with 80's fashion.
# Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" Music Video
# Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" Music Video
# Video Gallery - A photo montage from scenes in the film

The disc is also BD Live Enabled.

"13 going on 30' is just a fun romantic comedy that I have enjoyed countless times. Not because I'm a child of the 80's but I really enjoyed the charming performances by Garner and Ruffalo, the overall story, the music and the awesome shots of New York City. Everything came together for this film.

Although considered as a "date film' or a "Girl's Night Out" type of film, as a guy who enjoyed the film, you can't help be touched because of Ruffalo's portrayal of Matt. Guys get dumped or rejected by girls. That close bond you have with a female friend in high school or friends period, not always last through adulthood. And for Matty, you can literally sense the pain this guy goes through of having the girl he cared for (and eventually hurt him and abandoned him) in high school coming back to his life (especially when he's about to get married). So, there are many aspects that a guy can relate to in this film.

But was this film perfect? Not really. For music, by 1987, Michael Jackson's "Thriller", Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield", the Go-Go's "Head over Heels" and even Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" were old news and were released way before 1987. Music by that time was all about Bon Jovi, the Beastie Boys, Prince, The Jets and LL Cool J. But of course, people who didn't grow up during that time period probably wouldn't know that, so I guess it's not really important.

If you own the DVD, is it worth owning on Blu-ray? Of course, the Blu-ray version is featured in 1080p and the audio is featured in Dolby TrueHD 5.1. This is probably the best video and audio quality we will ever see of this film. But are there considerable difference from the DVD version. Not really. You're only getting one extra special feature on the Blu-ray versus the "Fun & Flirty version" on DVD. But if you don't own this film on DVD or if you have only the first version of the DVD, then this Blu-ray release is definitely worth it, especially if you enjoyed the film.

All in all, I enjoyed this film a lot. I enjoyed it back in 2004 and continue to enjoy it now even after watching it several times. "13 going on 30' is a romantic comedy that can be watched and enjoyed for many years to come. Definitely check it out!

On the surface, this movie may seem like just another fluff movie. However, giving this movie its fair chance, we soon learn that it is anything but that. Basically, as the movie starts, we are introduced to the 13 year old Jenna Rink. She is unpopular and unhappy. More than anything, she wants to hook up with the 6 'cool girls' in the school. Her friend Matt tries to explain that to her that there really isn't much to admire or envy about the '6 cool girls.' Matt seems like a nice of enough person, but Jenna doesn't have her eyes on him. Rather, she is after the popular Chris Grandy. After reading some teen magazines, she decides she wants to be '30, flirty, and thriving' just like the people in her magazines. Well, somehow, she gets her wish and 17 years fly by. Not only is she 30, but she has a high paying job that she wanted, and her best friend is (or was)Tom Tom the leader of the 6 cool girls. She is understandably confused at first, but she soon becomes happy over her wish coming true. To some extent, she is still talking and acting like a 13 year old, but it does make sense. Well, soon the "Bedazzled" formula comes in. (If you saw that, you know as Frasier made his wishes, the devil or Elizabeth Hurley threw some unwanted element in.) Garner's movie is more profound. Jenna gradually realizes that even though she has gotten her wish, she doesn't like the person she has become. To be sure, she 'supposedly' did bad things in the missing 17 years she had no control over. But even in the time as a 30 year old she DID have control over, she gets notably shallow and self centered. Possibly, the most profound aspect of this film is that it exposes the hypocrisy of society. Remember, the magazines Jenna was reading as a 13 year old, filled her with the desires for the wish. And even after Jenna got the wishes that society filled her with, she was really unhappy with herself when she realized the kind of person she became. And the even worse price she may have to pay is Matt. Matt was never really popular, but he held to his important values even though they didn't make him popular. Jenna has lost his friendship; he has gotten engaged to another woman; while he to a generous extent finally forgives Jenna, Jenna realizes that they have become so different. Also, Jenna may have gotten the best friend she wanted. However, she eventually learns that being friends with 'whoever is cool' may not be real. They may be willing to drop you when they realize that your friendship is more dangerous or possibly less beneficial to them. One of the most powerful elements in this movie is that the company Jenna works for is in trouble, and the key to saving her place of employment may directly parallel what Jenna needed to resolve with herself. In all honesty, there isn't a dull moment. And you do walk away feeling like the time spent was enriching as well as entertaining. (RARE FEELING AFTER A MOVIE THESE DAYS!)

This is a feel good movie. It is not really creative on story line, and boils down to your basic romantic comedy with a little fantasy thrown in, none the less it makes a great movie to watch over and over again just because it is so fun.

This movie tells of Jenna, a girl who is a total sqaure when she is 13 and longs to be popular and respected. She makes a wish on her 13th birthday, using some "fairy dust" that her friend gives her to make a wish. When she wakes up, she is in a high rise apartment in New York City, with a hot hocky playing boyfriend and a job as a top magazine editor at the magazine she read as a teen, plus she has a closet full of fabulous clothes, what girl wouldn't want that??

Because of her wish, it turned out she got everything she wanted, except for the friendship and the love of her friend Matt. She must figure out how she will fix this relationship, so she can get him back, as well as save the magazine from the resident backstabbing snob.

This movie is very cute. Jennifer Garner plays the 13 year old stuck in a 30 year old's body well. This is a must see, must buy movie!

The highlight, of course, is the exuberant "Thriller" dance number. But let's not twist this, there are many moments worth watching in 13 GOING ON 30. Above all, you're dragged along in the wake of Jennifer Garner's charm and the infectious joy with which she plays Jenna. Not that she's produced a lot of stuff on the silver screen, but 13 GOING ON 30, breezy and laugh-out-loud funny, is without a doubt my favorite Jennifer Garner flick.

It's all about wish fulfillment, and, because we've already seen Big (Extended Edition) and Freaky Friday, we already know that the inherent lesson here is that be content within yourself and also that there's no place like home. It's a given that Jenna Rink will learn this lesson in due time, but not just yet. Because that would deny us the pleasure of watching then 32-year-old Jennifer Garner go thru her silly shenanigans. So, first, whilst being doused in magic dust, thirteen-year-old Jenna, experiencing a disastrous birthday, wishes that she were "thirty and flirty and thriving." She then wakes up to find herself in a beautiful 30-year-old body. What's more, she now resides in New York City in her own posh apartment and holding down a gig as a big-time fashion magazine editor.

The movie then shows us obligatory (yet wickedly humorous) scenes of Jenna striving to act mature, and not quite getting there. I got a quick chuckle from a brief shot of Jenna scoping out "Magazine Publishing for Dummies." Plenty of fun call-backs to 1980s pop culture, to a time when people really were that into Rick Springfield and where "Everybody Wang Chung tonight" kind of meant something. Me, I barely remember Razzles, let alone that they're both a candy AND a gum.

And then, as they're wont to do, the movie gets a bit serious (but, thankfully, not too serious). We learn that the woman Jenna had become is not a nice person. We also learn that the magazine she works for is suffering an alarming decline in popularity and in sales. Tons of pressure on Jenna, regarded as a bright star in the world of haute couture periodicals. Will Jenna get her act together? Will she make amends with her estranged former best friend Mattie, played, by the way, with down-to-earth appeal by Mark Ruffalo?

It's key that Jennifer Garner is not at all afraid of looking silly and awkward here. It's key that she's a good enough actress that we come to care for her character. And it's important that Ruffalo is around to provide grounded support and that dang good romantic spark. Meanwhile, subtly duplicitous and a bit buggy-eyed, Judy Greer is pitch perfect as Jenna's current best friend. And, yes, I dare you high school graduates of the '80s to not get all nostalgic when the soundtrack kicks up. I can't believe I forgot how much I liked Billy Joel's "Vienna Waits for You." I've never really been a fan of Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield" but the movie's use of it as an anthem is pretty well done.

I've been digging Jennifer Garner since her superspy days in ALIAS, and when 13 GOING ON 30 came out, I figured this was just the stage to propel her to bigger and better things. But, for some reason, she's kept a low profile in the years following 2004, excepting all the trashy Bennifer media blitz (yet another reason to dislike Ben Affleck). Thankfully, her recent good turns in The Kingdom (Widescreen Edition) and Juno (Two-Disc Special Edition with Digital Copy) have gotten her back on track. But, while she's shown off her dramatic skills in these other roles, to me, she was still never better than when she was "thirty and flirty and thriving." A totally endearing performance.

I have to admit it, 13 Going on 30 won me over. I know it's just a twist and apparent rip-off of Penny Marshall's classic, Big but this film is sweet and funny thanks to Jennifer Garner. I also think Mark Ruffalo is one of the best new actors to emerge in the last few years, he is so real and vulnerable, I just adore him! This film is fun for the whole family, it's charming and entertaining. Enjoy!

13 going on 30 is a romantic comedy movie, for the whole family.
The story is about Jenna, (Jennifer Garner) a frustrated 13 year old girl who wants to skip all her adolescence years and go straight to the age of 30 and become a succesful woman.
Her best friend Matt(Mark Ruffelo)gives her wishing dust to become a 30 year old woman.She is happy to find out that she is an editor of a famous magazine with a sports star boyfriend, but then she discovers that in the last 17 years she skipped she has become not such a nice person.
In my opinion Jennifer Garner plays Jenna perfectly. She has charisma, energy ,and she makes this movie even better then it is. Mark Ruffelo is also great playing Matt.
i recomend you all to buy this movie, it can be great for the cold holidays... so add it to your family movies collection,you won't be disappointed!

This movie will really make your day! Especially if your a hopless romantic, like me. It's happy and fun and in turn puts you in that kind of mood. I loved how the screen play addresses important life lessons to the watchers. 1. To enjoy life. 2. Always hear the beat of your own drum. 3. And don't be reckless with the things that matter the most to you. Stop taking them for granted. You must see this movie! Jennifer Garner was fabulous. Making such a wonderful thirteen year old stuck in a thirty year old person's body. She's a really beautiful actress. Oh, and you just got to love how Mark Ruffalo shows up in these candy coated love stories. To me he's a breath of fresh air from the likes of these buttom nose self absorbed actors like Chad Michel Murray. No offese to his fans ^_~ They also have great special features of the DVD. Anyway, check it out!! =^___^=

This is the biggest waste of money that I have found yet. Not only are there no extras on this "special edition", but the "alternate beginning and ending" are done with different actors and actresses. (I use the term actors and actresses VERY loosely). This was the biggest rip-off I have ever seen. I LOVE the movie itself. don't get me wrong. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. The thing that gets me is that they billed this big special edition on the premise that we would see an alternate beginning and ending, and then they use different people. It makes no sense. Don't waste your money.