Apr 30, 2004 By Lou Gaul Calkins Media Film Critic 3 min read

At first glance, most people might shrug off the PG-13 comedy as a sex-change version of “Big,” due to its story about a teenage girl who wants to be instantly older to escape the torturous emotional ups and downs of junior high school. She quickly discovers that people must always be careful what they wish for. As “13 Going on 30” begins in 1987, Jenna Rink (played as a teen by Christa B. Allen) is trying to fit in with the cool girls at school. She also desires the attention of a handsome jock and callously ignores her lifelong friend, Matt (played as a youngster by Sean Marquette).

After desperately wishing she could put the troubles of youth behind, Jenna (Jennifer Garner of TV’s “Alias”) awakens in 2004 as an adult. Her world comes complete with a beautiful body, handsome hockey-star boyfriend, to-die-for New York City apartment and dream job as editor of the slick fashion magazine Poise, which is quickly losing circulation.

Jenna embraces her shallow adult life and thinks all of her dreams have come true. She quickly learns, however, that over the years she has shut numerous people – including her loving parents and Matt (played as an adult by Mark Ruffalo of “In the Cut”) – out of her life during a blind quest for success and ends up with an empty existence.

Through the course of “13 Going on 30,” director Gary Winick (“Tadpole”) follows the adult Jenna on a journey during which she finally recognizes the error of her shallow ways and recaptures her youthful enthusiasm about life and love. Winick certainly struck gold when he hired Garner for the lead role.

The 32-year-old actress brings a refreshing naturalness and a quirky sense of fun to the screen. She totally captures the rainbow of emotions a young woman would experience while discovering that what seems a dream world becomes a nightmare once she loses her moral compass. Because Garner is such a joy to watch, it’s easy to overlook the TV-level cliches that sometimes litter the screen.

“13 Going on 30” is clearly designed to appeal to young girls. The glossy film provides those viewers with an important message, telling them to be patient, because if you possess the right attitudes and positive values, life does indeed get better and better as time goes by.

FILM REVIEW

“13 Going on 30”

Grade: B+

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Christa B. Allen and Sean Marquette; written by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa; produced by Susan Arnold and Donna Arkoff Roth; directed by Gary Winick.

Running Time: 100 minutes.

Parental Guide: strong sexual innuendo, brief drug references, numerous drinking scenes.