13 GOING ON 30
US, 2004, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Kathy Baker.
Directed by Gary Winick.
Here are some more mean girls. At school, they are particularly unpleasant to Jenna, using her assignment plans, coming to her birthday party but then tricking her to hide in the cupboard waiting for the kiss from the boy she has a crush on. But, all she gets is a kiss from the best friend she takes for granted, the chubby Matt. No, that is not all, she gets her wish fulfilled, that she be 30.
She is big (just as once Tom Hanks was). She gets a terrible shock to find that she has become worse than any of the mean girls, has lost touch with Matt and seems to be one of the most disagreeable editors on the magazine she used to idolised at 13. While there are a few jokes about a gawky 13 year old in a 30 year old’s body, the plot is more about how she can become a better person. Fortunately, she tracks down Matt who is really a very decent guy, although engaged to a super-energetic professional, and a very good photographer. We watch Jenna move from mean to amenable to sugar and spice.
Jennifer Garner is more used to being in action on television’s Alias. She has a pleasing screen presence here, a Julia Roberts smile and some comic timing. Mark Ruffalo is the nice grown-up Matt. Fame has come to Andy Serkis after being Gollum and here he is as the supervising editor of the magazine.
The title probably describes the target audience for the film.
1.The popular theme of transformation from child to adult? The similarity to Big? The focus on a girl at thirteen, her coping in the body of a thirty-year-old, and the discovery of a new world as well as of her disagreeable character?
2.The tone of the title, the humour? The implausibility – the birthday, the wishing dust and the effect? And the return to ordinary life?
3.The home settings, the home town, New York City, offices, parties? The different worlds? The musical score?
4.The focus on Jenna, at thirteen, wanting to be like everyone else, not wanting to be different? Her friendship with Matt, his photography? Her interest in Lucy and the other girls? Being humiliated by them? At school, in the corridors? At home, her clashes with her parents? Her inviting the girls, their promise of a kiss from the boy she has the crush on? Their using her material? Her being in the room, blindfold, rescued by Matt? Her disappointment? The fairy dust, his gift of the Jenna house, her putting it away? Her wish come true?
5.Jenna at thirty, and discovering herself, the apartment, the boyfriend, her prim reactions? Her going to work, meeting Lucy? Richard and his running of the magazine? The meetings, ideas? Her being at a loss? Her having to cope, clothes, work? Her secretary and her help? Discovering she was out of contact with her parents? Her having become a mean girl? The discovery that she was in contact with the rival magazine? Her chance encounter with Matt, going to see him? Their reminiscences? His telling her the truth about himself, their loss of contact? His engagement? Her hiring him for the photo shoot? His helping her out at the dance, her changing the music at the party, Richard grateful to her? The confrontation with Lucy? The revelation that she had betrayed the company? Her going to find Matt, the wedding? Her disappointment with herself? Going home to her parents, talking with her mother, mistakes? Her waking up, thirty but with a different perspective on life? The happy ending?
6.Jenna’s parents, their support of her, at thirteen, their pride in her? Her lack of contact? Going back to see her mother, talking about mistakes?
7.Lucy, at school, using Jenna? Their work together, Lucy’s style? At the magazine, the meetings? Pushing Jenna? The discussions about Matt, the photos, his dislike of her, her getting his signature, moving to the other magazine?
8.Richard, the magazine, the boss, the clients, the circulation, parties and his desperation?
9.The popular New York world of magazines, social life, parties? Contrasting with the inner life of somebody trying to act as thirty when they were only thirteen?
