I like the idea of a body-swap movie where the character actually trades bodies with herself. That is a new twist that makes 13 Going on 30 unique. It's like a mash-up of Big and Freaky Friday all in one. I also have to applaud Jennifer Garner for her performance in the film. I think in films like this it is often easy for an adult actor to fall into acting more like a toddler. She had the tween (or early teen) vibe down quite well. The story is definitely charming, even if it heads down all the expected roads. There wasn't a single moment of the film that was a surprise, and that's not the end of the world. This film is inspired by many that came before it, but it still delivers the kind of romantic story people expect.
One of the big struggles I had with 13 Going on 30 was just the way it ended. For one thing, it's strange that I found myself wanting to see her life redeemed in the 30-year-old life we were watching. You spend so much time seeing how life isn't working for her, and you want to see her turn a corner. Yet, by the very nature of the story, the entire slate will be wiped clean and that version of the characters will never exist again. It's also what turned me off a bit on the happy ending, because that lacked the cathartic redemption you desire in these stories, it's just a moment of things going better and a fast-forward into a brighter future. While that little piece of 13 Going on 30 was underwhelming, I still enjoyed my time watching it and would recommend it to others.
One of the big struggles I had with 13 Going on 30 was just the way it ended. For one thing, it's strange that I found myself wanting to see her life redeemed in the 30-year-old life we were watching. You spend so much time seeing how life isn't working for her, and you want to see her turn a corner. Yet, by the very nature of the story, the entire slate will be wiped clean and that version of the characters will never exist again. It's also what turned me off a bit on the happy ending, because that lacked the cathartic redemption you desire in these stories, it's just a moment of things going better and a fast-forward into a brighter future. While that little piece of 13 Going on 30 was underwhelming, I still enjoyed my time watching it and would recommend it to others.