13 Going On 30 (2004)

(In theaters, July 2004) Surprisingly enough, this film avoids to be as cringe-inducing as the premise and trailers initially suggested. A large part of this achievement rests on the shoulders of Jennifer Garner, nearly perfect as a 13-year-old who wakes-up as her 30-year-old self. Her enthusiasm for the material and bouncy delivery does a lot to overcome the obviousness of the material. The first fifteen minutes (the obligatory “age 13” prologue) aren’t particularly interesting and for a moment, it looks as if the film is headed straight to the dustbin. Fortunately, things get a little better afterwards, with plenty of amusing material and heart-felt romance to liven up everything. Things take a turn for the worse by the end, as the screenplay draws itself in a corner and has to the resort to the worst possible ending in order to salvage a happy ending. Sadly, in doing so, it negates a good portion of the film and, most annoyingly, allows everyone to ignore the consequences of their actions. Eeew. But what else to expect from this kind of film? Coincidences, continuity errors and stupid movie tricks (you know; the kind of stuff no one ever does in real life) abound, showing a production laziness that further heightens the impression that this isn’t something to care about.