13 Going on 30 - Time Travel Books and Movies

13 Going on 30

This is a different kind of time travel movie. It’s about Jenna, a 13 year old girl who back in 1987 wants nothing more than to have boobs and be popular. Her dream is to become a member of a clique group at school called the Six Chicks. Her best friend is a boy named Matty who builds her, his own version of a Barbie’s Dream House. He even sprinkles the house with wishing dust (whatever that is) so all her dreams would come true. He really cares for Jenna, but she ends up turning on him in favor of the popular girls.

The Six Chicks

Young Jenna and Matty are played by Christa B. Allen and Sean Marquette.

When the Six Chicks come to her house to play a practical joke on her, things turn bad. Jenna ends up in the closet, expecting a cute guy to come in for a game called seven minutes in heaven. But instead, Matty shows up and kisses her. She becomes so angry, she kicks him out and wishes that she was 30 years old, banging her head against the closet shelves. The banging knocks wishing dust loose from the dream house and onto her.

Jenna wakes up 17 years in the future. The year is 2004 and she is 30 years old. But in her mind, she is still 13.

Jennifer Garner plays 30 year old Jenna and she is adorable in this part. It is reminiscent of Tom Hanks in the movie Big, but in that one, Tom Hank’s character became older, but stayed in the same time. Jenna actually travels to her future life.

Jenna soon realizes that she has lost her innocence, her parents, and her life with Matty, now played by The Hulk, Mark Ruffalo. She has become a fairly dishonorable person. But now, this 13 going on 30 Jenna is still kind and cares about the things she lost.

Mark Ruffalo was also good in this movie. Matty had been hurt by Jenna and claims she threw the dream house at his head. In turn, in the old life, they went their separate ways. He plays the role well, not caring at first about her, yet trying to help. Then falling for her all over again. It is apparent, he never stopped loving her.

To coin an eighties phase, this movie is rad to the max. The props, products and music from the 1980s is perfect. Young Jenna and Matty love Razzles and talk about Pop Rocks. The music soundtrack is perfect ‘80s, from the Talking Heads, Pat Benatar, Madonna, to Michael Jackson. Young Jenna is also in love with Rick Springfield.

Everybody Wang Chung tonight? 

Jenna's mother is played by Kathy Baker.

In the future, Jenna teaches other 13 year old girls about love, with the immortal and “deep” words of Pat Benatar:

"We are young

Heartache to heartache we stand

No promises, no demands

Love is a battlefield"

Pat Benatar doing the shimmy in the Love is a battlefield music video.

My favorite part of the entire film is when 30 year old Jenna is asked to help people start dancing at her office party. Jenna explains the lame, music, void of any sort of a beat is the cause. She tells the DJ to put on Michael Jackson’s Thriller and starts awkwardly dancing as she did as a 13 year old, which for her, was just the day before. Jennifer Garner could not be any cuter, than in this scene.

The entire theme of the movie is the subject of her campaign at work as an editor at Poise magazine: “Remember what used to be good.”

This movie also stars Judy Greer as Lucy, who was the head Six Chick, Tom-Tom when she was young.

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Music used in the film:

The Go-Go's - "Head Over Heels"

Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl"

Talking Heads - "Burning Down the House"

Belinda Carlisle - "Mad About You"

Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"

Lillix - "What I Like About You"

Vanilla Ice - "Ice Ice Baby"

Madonna - "Crazy for You"

Billy Joel - "Vienna"

Liz Phair - "Why Can't I?"

Soft Cell - "Tainted Love"

Pat Benatar - "Love Is a Battlefield"

Michael Jackson - "Thriller"

Ashley Grer - "Sparkle"

Talking Heads - "Once in a Lifetime"

Ingram Hill - "Will I Ever Make It Home?"

Wang Chung - "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"

Daniel Lenz - "Keep It Simple (Stupid)"

Luce - "Good Day"

Mowo! - "Chick a Boom Boom Boom"

Notes:
Christa B. Allen reprieves playing Jennifer Garner’s younger self in the movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.   (Not a very good movie)

Garner was nominated for MTV movie and Teen Choice awards for her role as Jenna Rink.

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