Like any young teenager in 2004, I wanted to get as far away from my current life as possible. Middle school was a hellhole, new drama was forming week-to-week, and my CD player was always running out of batteries before the end of the school day. But there was always one bright north star that kept me going through those awkward years, and that of course was the art of cinema. And while many movies that year became important classics to this writer, none of them are quite as comforting as 13 Going on 30.
Starring soon-to-be icons Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, 13 Going on 30 remains the perfect blend of a time travel fantasy and a romantic comedy, all in one enchanting package. Now with the movie turning (not 30 but) 20 this year, it seems only fitting to revisit this glittering bit of nostalgia. So, dust off your favorite pair of sparkly shoes and throw Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” onto the turntable, because we’re about to look at what continues to make 13 Going on 30 a delightful gem.
Editor’s note: This post contains spoilers for a 20 year old film.
What I Like About You
Directed by Gary Winick, 13 Going on 30 centers around 13-year-old Jenna Rink (Christa B. Allen) who, after a terrible incident at her birthday party, wishes she could be 30. But when her fantasy become a reality, Jenna (now played by Jennifer Garner) discovers that her dream “flirty and thriving” life might not be as wonderful as she imagined. From cat fights at her magazine job, to her fading childhood friendship with Matt (Mark Ruffalo), the film follows Jenna as she tries to make the wrong things in her 30-year-old life right again.
Obviously, 13 Going on 30 treads some familiar ground. It certainly isn’t the only film to depict a younger person wishing to be older (Big) and nor is it the first film to show characters regretting their social climbing tactics. But one of the elements that makes Winick’s film stand out from its early 2000s competition is the talented group of actors who bring this precious little movie to life.
From the moment she falls off of her expensive sofa, Garner plays Jenna with the perfect balance of Bambi-eyed whimsy and genuine sincerity. It’s a tightrope act not all actors can handle without going too overboard in either direction, but Garner handles Jenna’s transition towards optimistic maturity with grace, and dare I say poise (because if you know, you know.)
Similarly, Ruffalo does an incredible job of making Matt one of the greatest rom-com male leads in the history of the genre. Not only do you see the twinkling admiration he has for Jenna in his eyes, but Ruffalo puts his heart and vulnerability on full display. It’s a quality that often doesn’t get shown by many actors in rom-coms of this era, but with Ruffalo being the pro he is, you can see his earnest affection come across in every scene.
Yet, it’s when these two are together that 13 Going on 30 genuinely shines. Whether it’s a music-fueled romantic montage set to the tunes of Liz Phair, or a delicate sequence of the two having a swing duel by Battery Park, it’s genuinely thrilling to watch Garner and Ruffalo’s chemistry play out on screen. A fact that shifts into becoming painfully heartbreaking near the film’s third act, when Matt and Jenna have to make tough decisions about their romance.
It’s also important to mention the unsung heroes of 13 Going on 30 a.k.a. the supporting players. From the treasure that is Judy Greer hamming it up as once-popular girl Tom-Tom/Lucy, to Andy Serkis playing one of cinema’s nicer fashion magazine bosses, every member of the cast brings an element of quirky fun to an already delicious film. Because without them (or Garner and Ruffalo), its wacky premise wouldn’t work nearly as well.
Growing Up is a Battlefield
Much like the cast, writers Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa’s screenplay for is another big element as to why the film is such a success. Not only does it contain a treasure trove of fantastic lines and now iconic sequences, but there are wonderful bits of commentary deep within that don’t get nearly enough praise – including the good and bad sides of transitioning into adulthood.
For starters, there’s Matt. When we first meet his 13-year-old self, we see that he’s far from what other kids his age think is conventionally cool (which makes him a natural target for bullying.) But once we see the character in his Mark Ruffalo form, it’s clear that his rough middle school days are far behind him. Now as an adult, he’s become a successful photographer, has a cool apartment, and generally feels comfortable in his own skin.
Yet on the other side of the coin is Lucy/Tom-Tom. By all accounts, Lucy looks like she has everything a 30-year-old could want – she’s got a killer wardrobe, a great job, and an endless supply of snarky remarks at her disposal. But as the film unfolds, we begin to realize that Lucy’s old “Tom-Tom” ways haven’t changed at all. Instead of accepting her successes, she’s always trying to change herself (including her style and nose). Ultimately, Lucy embodies the always present teenage insecurities that both fuel the fashion industry and also her current toxic behavior.
But if you push Lucy (along with the super gross Chris Grandy) to the side, easily the character that has the worst transition from teen-to-adult is Jenna herself. Little by little, we see that our leading lady has not only become a vanity fueled monster in her new life, but she also has transformed into her (and the film’s) own worst enemy. She has affairs with her co-worker’s husbands, doesn’t talk to her parents, and she’s also the one sabotaging her own job by giving secret tips to the rival magazine. Simply put, Jenna did exactly what RuPaul tells her queens not to do.
In the end, it’s these bold decisions within Goldsmith and Yuspa’s script that makes the film feel elevated compared to similar rom-com content. To this day, few films are willing to make their likable protagonist a borderline Charles Dickens’ self-sabotaging figure, along with brutally commenting on becoming an adult. But these kinds of choices are what makes the film’s finale even more rewarding to watch – because Jenna (and the film as a whole) have experienced a lot of emotional growth to get to her happily ever after.
Crazy for You
While we’ve already praised the acting and storytelling within 13 Going on 30, there are a few other crucial aspects that make this cozy classic just a bit more magical than its romantic competition. Take for example the soundtrack, that’s filled with countless examples of both 80s and early 2000s pop, that perfectly match Jenna’s girlish aesthetic. From the motif-like use of Madonna’s “Crazy for You” to the use of underappreciated masterpieces such as Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” every piece of music here is clearly chosen with love and care.
The same thought and attention can also be found in the tiny visual callbacks throughout the film’s candy-colored landscape. Between production designer Garreth Stover to set decorator Leslie E. Rollins, it’s clear that every member of the crew “studied” the Back to the Future playbook of easter eggs.
One fan-favorite example is Jenna’s “Dream House” that Matt builds for her at the beginning of the film. It’s a beloved symbol of Matt’s crush on Jenna, but also is a constant reminder of how much 30-year-old Jenna has changed from the sweet girl depicted in the tiny toy house. So when Jenna finally makes her crucial changes and eventually marries Matt by the end of the film, it feels even more rewarding to see their home actually be the dream house in real life, pink paint and all.
But there are even more references within set and costume design that casual viewers tend to miss. For starters, Jenna has the same picture of Madonna both in her childhood bedroom and later a signed copy in her office. Also, when Jenna is looking through the 80s copy of Poise magazine with her mom, we can see a foreshadowing of the outfits she’ll end up wearing later on, along with the design of her apartment.
Overall, it is the tiny details like this (and a multitude of others) that make 13 Going on 30 not only a joy to watch for the first time but even more thrilling to take in during multiple rewatches. Catching the glimpses of these props and other items enriches the journey we go on as an audience, and confirms that the film was made by people who genuinely love these characters just as much as we do.
It’s Just Like We Were Meant to Be
As you can tell from this love letter, 13 Going on 30 has a lot to admire within its enchanting celluloid frames. That isn’t to say it doesn’t have its fair share of issues – especially when it comes to uncomfortable jokes involving children, not-so-great messages about women living independent lives, and the lack of diversity in the cast. But there are plenty of other pieces, videos, etc. that have examined those problematic elements in detail and that’s not what this article is here to do.
Instead, I wanted to write this piece as a way to say thank you to this silly movie. For context, growing up in the early 2000s was far from the idyllic scenario for a budding teenage girl – especially when it came to depictions of body image and other awkward topics that an adolescent demographic has to deal with on a day-to-day basis. But 13 Going on 30 was a fantastic reminder of the importance of individuality and staying true to yourself – which for a neurodivergent, animation-loving nerd in middle school that lived right outside of New York City, was a game changer of a message.
So, thank you, 13 Going on 30, for proving to me and countless other viewers that life can get fabulous if you give it a chance. Thank you for showing that anyone can express themselves through the things that bring them joy, no matter what age they are. Also, thank you for introducing me to Mark Ruffalo, who still remains a fantastic piece of dreamy eye candy 20 years later. But most importantly, thank you for showing me that being myself is the coolest person I can be. It’s a message I’ve taken with me well into my 30s and will continue to do so into the future.
still courtesy of Columbia Pictures
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