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13 Going On 30

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Christa B. Allen, Jack Salvatore Jr., Kathy Baker

Director: Gary Winick

Reviewed by Chris Ching

God knows why, but we're in the middle of a rebirth of one of cinema's most obscure sub genre's- the generational switcheroo. You remember that one from the late 80s right? In 87 and 88, there were no fewer than four flicks dealing with a kid switching bodies with an adult: Like Father Like Son, Vice Versa, 18 Again, and Big. Of all these, Big rose above the pack to be recognized as a true modern classic. Just like fellow 80s fad Duran Duran, the generational switcheroo has returned. There was last year's hit Freaky Friday and now comes 13 Going On 30 with Jennifer Garner star of TV's Alias and male fantasies the world over.

The movie aspires to be the female Big, and while the predictable and pedestrian script ultimately prevents it from achieving its goal, 13 Going On 30 remains a charming little movie. It's the kind of popcorn you'll never rent or consider owning, but for the hour and half you're sitting in the theatre you'll be entertained. Nowadays that's quite an accomplishment.

13 Going On 30 starts in 1987 on the thirteenth birthday of Jenna Rink (Christa B. Allen), a typical teenager who can't wait to be an adult. Through circumstances too lame to describe here, she wakes up to find herself fifteen years older and a hot shot editor at fashion magazine Poise. Now in the acting body of Jennifer Garner, she thinks she's got everything she ever wanted. But just like every single generational switcheroo hero, Jenna will discover being older isn't all it's cracked up to be. For fanboy students, this discovery is called the Generational Switch Life Lesson. Say it together - GENERATIONAL - SWITCH - LIFE - LESSON. Okay, back to the review..

Jenna makes up for 15 years of not getting hammered.

Till now, Garner has taken only supporting roles in films. 13 Going On 30 is her first starring role, and I wouldn't be surprised if she comes out of this a bona fide movie star. She does a remarkable job of getting you to believe she's a card carrying member of the awkward phase, and it's her charisma that gives the movie the zing it sorely needs. Garner is a great physical comedienne which makes sense since she's such a great action star on Alias. Her "Thriller" dance is a hoot although a Michael Jackson song so prominently performed in a movie about an adult with the mind of a child is kind of weird.

A little, less creepy, but still damn creepy was the appearance of Andy Serkis- the voice and physical basis for The Lord of The Rings' Gollum- as Jenna's boss. Every time he smiled I felt he was going to bite off her ring finger with his surprisingly Gollum-esque bad teeth. Yuck.

Like Jenna Rink, I myself was a 13 year old Seventh Grader in 1987, so of course I got a kick out of all the 80s pop culture references (if the largely 13 year old teen audience humorously did not). I'm hoping my rating of only two and a half stars isn't colored by the fact I'm about to turn 30, and I find myself on the far side of the 13 Going On 30 age spectrum. Am I bitter? Am I a boring, old fart who can't accept a fun lark of a movie for what it is?

I guess only time will tell.

Rating:

(2 1/2 out of 4 stars)