13 going on 30

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer

Year: 2004

This movie takes me back to 2004 - the year I met my new neighbour (she moved to Canada from England) - and we decided to go to see our first (of so so SO many) movie together. 13 going on 30. Prior to going to the movie we read the reviews. One of the reviews said that anyone who even thinks about seeing this movie has limited braincells and if you actually do see it, you will leave with even less braincells. Well we decided to take our chance, and honestly must have left with zero braincells, because we loved it and wanted to see it again!

While yes, the premise is unrealistic/fantasy-like, it is fun, refreshing, cute. On Jenna's (Garner) thirteenth birthday, she wishes to be thirty, flirty and thriving. And when she wakes up the next day she finds herself thirty, flirty and thriving. But she's just not sure how she actually got there. She decides the only way to find any answers of her past or how she became the woman she is now, is to find Matty (Ruffalo), her best friend from childhood. And so the story begins.

What amazes me is how the casting person/people found thirteen year old versions of Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer. You'd almost think they filmed those scenes when Jennifer and Judy were actually thirteen!

The soundtrack is so fun. Especially if you grew up listening to, or are a fan of, music from the 80's - The Go-Go's, Rick Springfield, Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, Pat Benatar to name a few.

Added tidbit: Whenever I watch a movie with Mark Ruffalo I smile. Only because I can imagine he is a kind, humble person. I was in Toronto one year attending the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). It was mid afternoon and I was shopping the streets of Yorkville. I was coming out of a store and noticed a huge crowd gathering outside of a hotel. I then noticed Greg Kinnear (yes yum! right??!!), Dennis Quaid and Lily Collins walking out of the hotel. No wonder the crowd! But then I also noticed a guy walking toward the crowd - dark curly hair, in a white t-shirt, faded jeans, a couple shopping bags in his hands - with the biggest smile on his face. It was Mark Ruffalo. The crowd was so busy watching Greg, Dennis and Lily climb into their waiting limos, they didn't even notice Mark nonchalantly making his way through the crowd - totally unnoticed. And at that moment, I fell in love. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled beyond thrilled to see Greg Kinnear in real life, but there was just something so endearing about Mark. So beautiful. So nice; just watching this A-List celebrity walking through the crowd as if he was a fan himself.

I don't care what that one particular critic said, this movie is lovely. It's about second chances - or not so much about second chances, but moreso about doing it right the first time. It's about not forgetting the little kid inside of us. It's about appreciating those special people in our lives and not ever thinking we are better than them. 13 going on 30 may not be TIFF worthy, but it sure is worth watching. And be ready to sing out loud and/or move that body. Dare you to be still during the "Thriller" scene. 😉

Lines:

*Arrivederci - Au revoir

*you just can't turn back time

*Eminem's on the phone, he wants an answer now. Umm. Plain. Peanut? Plain!

*I saw his thingy!

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.