The film 13 going on 30 is a film directed by Gary Winick, distributed by Sony Pictures and was published on April 23, 2004.This movie is about a 13 year old girl who has found herself 30 years old after her 13th birthday party with friends. She will realize how different her life is from what she wanted as a kid. She finds herself stuck and needs to figure out what she did and why she took that path.
In the beginning of the movie it starts in 1987 on Jenna’s 13th birthday party. She invites the 6 chick group, Chris, his friends and Matt her best friend. Matt shows up earlier than everyone else and while waiting for them he gives Jenna a handmade doll house with “magic wishing sparkles” on the rooftop. When everyone shows up, the 6 chicks decide to trick Jenna into thinking that Chris will kiss her. When realizing it was a trick Jenna felt humiliated and locked herself in the closet calling out “I wish I was thirty and flirty and thriving” while the wishing dust from the dollhouse sprinkled onto her.
Once awake Jenna realized her wish came true and turned 30 overnight. She learns that she is a fashion editor in a fashion magazine office called Poise. While in a meeting she realized Matt could help her figure out why she changed. When she found Matt she realized that she had messed up their friendship and hasn’t talked since high school. A lot has changed with both of their lives. Matt is going to get married while Jenna is working for a big fashion magazine company. When looking in the yearbook with him she sees that she got everything she wanted like being prom queen and being in the 6 chicks group.
While finding herself and her future, Jenna has adjusted to her new adult-life. Poise has been very successful, especially with the music party they had for advertising. Many people showed up but tried to leave because it got very boring fast. They had to think of an idea to win over the audience, and Jenna tells the DJ to play thriller, a throwback song for everyone. However, while Jenna is working with her co-editor Lucy, their rival Sparkle is trying to win. Jenna used Matt as a photographer to capture a new idea for Poise. While photographing with Matt, she realizes that they have grown a lot closer. Behind Jenna’s back, Lucy has been trying to sabotage Jenna for being a better editor, so she tells Matt.
Near the end of the movie Jenna rushes to Matt’s wedding that takes place at his childhood home to talk about what Lucy is doing to Poise. Jenna tries talking to Matt about how he should give her a chance and how she has changed from her past self. Matt acknowledges how she feels but thinks it’s too late because it’s been too many years. He gives Jenna the dollhouse he kept in his closet. When Jenna realizes that he has made his decision she runs to her childhood home with the doll house, while holding the dollhouse with tears in her eyes, the wishing dust from the dollhouse sparkles around her.
In the end of the movie Jenna awakens back in 1987 where she is back in her home on her 13th birthday. Jenna realizes Matt is still there and hugs and kisses him. With Jenna knowing her mistakes she lives her life with a completely different mindset of who she wants to be. Jenna and Matt later get married and live in a house resembling the dollhouse he had made her.
I think the movie was very good. 13 going on 30 is a great romcom to watch, it has the right amount of comedy and emotion for being a romcom. The movie also gives a very deep meaning to who you want to become and shows how adulthood and childhood can change greatly. I also think they casted the actors perfectly, Jennifer Garner (Jenna Rink) is an amazing actor and has been directed in many different movies.
