A teenage girl waking up in the body of a 30-year-old woman sounds like a crazy concept, but judging by 13 Going on 30, it certainly makes for great entertainment. Once upon a time, Jenna Rink’s biggest problems were boys and being popular, but in an instant, her troubles turned into business and being an adult. Jennifer Garner starred as the lead character in the age-swap rom-com and nearly 20 years later, it’s still appreciated by many. Every now and then, a movie is released that stands the test of time, whether a drama like Titanic or a comedy like Napoleon Dynamite, and as for romantic comedies go 13 Going on 30 made a cultural impact that leaves people talking about it to this day.
When Netflix debuted its trailer for the upcoming film, The Adam Project, the 13 Going on 30 army awakened as they saw their beloved Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo on screen again. And if owning a television wasn’t a good enough reason to watch the rom-com for the millionth time, the announcement of the 2022 sci-fi film will surely give rom-com lovers a push to do so. Through the heart and laughter, here’s what makes 13 Going on 30 one of the best rom-coms of all time.
Jennifer Garner’s Performance
Before Garner embarked on her career of playing a mom in family films, she portrayed the lovable, ditzy tween turned lady in this Gary Winick-directed motion picture. Between her childlike mannerisms and innocent naivety, Garner managed to hilariously capture the essence of a youngster navigating through the adult world. Whether wrapping a Fruit Roll-Up around her finger or befriending her neighbor ten years her junior, the People’s Choice Award-winning actress perfectly embodied a teen on screen, making for a performance that’s both memorable and comical.
The Childhood Sweethearts Storyline
As the two strolled home from school sharing a bag of their favorite candy Razzles, viewers had to have noticed Matt Flamhaff’s (played by Mark Ruffalo as an adult) blatant crush on his best friend. But Jenna remains blissfully unaware that the nerdy photographer has any feelings for her. With her eyes set on Chris Grandy, the hunkiest guy in the eighth grade, all Jenna cares about is making it with the cool kids. But even so, Matt tries to pursue her, gifting her with her own handmade Jenna Dream House, complete with cut-outs of the two of them and magical dust to make all of her dreams come true. Not everyone may end up with the first crush, but Jenna and Matt’s love story is the kind that could melt a tough cookie’s heart — and who knows: the movie might’ve given a 13-year-old or two the confidence to talk to their crush.
Important Life Lessons
Because Jenna essentially skipped through 17 years of her life, she has no recollection of any events throughout her teens and twenties. But after reuniting with an estranged Matt, she soon learns that she isn’t the woman she expected to be. Although she grew to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving” just like she’d wished for, Jenna finds that her adult self broke contact with her parents, had an affair with a married man, and even destroyed her and Matty’s friendship. While time travel might not be something to occur in everyday life, 13 Going on 30 still manages to teach audiences the simple lesson of being kind. Jenna may have longed to fit in with the popular girls at school, but at the end of the day Matt was the one who was always there for her.
Surely, many teenagers go through the phase of wanting to skip through their awkwardness and go straight to the fabulous life of adulthood, but the film shows the importance of living in the moment. When all is said and done, no one can actually fast-forward through life, so it’s important to savor every moment that you have, especially while you still can. Indeed, Jenna’s most meaningful words of wisdom come from what is also known as a Pat Benatar song. “We are young,” she preaches to a group of middle school girls who look at her in awe. “Heartache to heartache, we stand. Love is a battlefield.”
Jenna’s Iconic Dress
Keira Knightley’s green dress from Atonement, Marilyn Monroe’s pink ensemble in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Alicia Silverstone’s plaid yellow skirt suit in Clueless — some movie outfits are easily recognizable and Jenna’s eccentric party dress is no exception. After the much welcome fashion montage set to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” Jenna lands on a striped tye-dye mini dress that Andy Serkis’ character described as “Barbie meets Britney.” To this day, fashion industries have been making and selling imitations of the dress online. Singer Ariana Grande once channeled her inner Jenna when she donned the Versace gown whilst judging on The Voice season 21. Christa B. Allen, who played young Jenna, also wore the piece in a TikTok where she recreated the extraordinary scene. A costume party, Halloween, the grocery store — there’s no bad time to peacock around in the undoubtedly conversation-starting outfit.
The Happy Ending
Traditional rom-com route, the story ends with a happily ever after, albeit bittersweet at first. Though Matt is set to marry his new sweetheart, Wendy, Jenna attempts to stop him in an expeditious frenzy that admittedly is stressful to watch. Viewers watched through the blur of their tears as Jenna poured her heart out to Matt, declaring Wendy is not the woman for him, only for her to be rejected by her former best friend, who insisted that despite his life-long feelings for her, he had moved on.
Fear not, however — in a scene that would go on to be replicated in Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” video, Jenna makes another wish on Matt’s Dream House, taking her back to her 13th birthday party, where she greets her best friend with a kiss and the two fast-forward, once again, to their wedding day. Madonna’s “Crazy For You” sets the tune to Jenna and Matt’s married life as Matt snaps a photo of the two sharing a kiss. But the absolute adorableness continues even further when the two move into a bright pink home, similar to the Dream House, and the film closes with Mr. and Mrs. Flamhaff sharing a bag of Razzles.