Synopsis
After total humiliation at her thirteenth birthday party, Jenna Rink wants to just hide until she’s thirty. Thanks to some wishing dust, Jenna’s prayer has been answered. With a knockout body, a dream apartment, a fabulous wardrobe, an athlete boyfriend, a dream job, and superstar friends, this can’t be a better life. Unfortunately, Jenna realizes that this is not what she wanted. The only one that she needs is her childhood best friend, Matt, a boy that she thought destroyed her party. But when she finds him, he’s a grown-up, and not the same person that she knew.
Cast
Jennifer Garner…Jenna Rink
Mark Ruffalo…Matt Flamhaff
Judy Greer…Lucy Wyman
Andy Serkis…Richard Kneeland
Kathy Baker…Bev Rink
Phil Reeves…Wayne Rink
Sam Ball…Alex Carlson
Marcia DeBonis…Arlene
Christa B. Allen…Young Jenna
Sean Marquette…Young Matt
Renee Olstead…Becky
Best character
I’m going to choose both Jenna and Matt for this because I love them both so much. I know Jenna technically isn’t a great person at first, but we don’t actually see any of this. It’s hard not to love her because Jennifer Garner is such a delight. She played a teen girl so well and to say this was her first comedy role is insane. She’s 100% one of my favourite actors of all time.
Matt is the sweetest guy on Earth. Firstly, what teenage boy is thoughtful enough to create an entire dream house for someone? He’s always been head over heels for Jenna and it’s so cute.
Favourite scenes
*I do not own the rights to any videos in this post, no copyright infringement was intended. All rights go to the production studio*
I want to include this scene firstly, because Mark Ruffalo *swoon*, and secondly, for the “I WANT A FLUFFY PILLOW” line.
I love any type of montage scene – it gets double points if it’s a makeover. My biggest question is why does Jenna have her hair in a million curlers if she’s putting it in an intricate style that is actually straight?
We all know the thriller scene and it is definitely the most iconic in the entire film. It doesn’t get any better than watching Andy Serkis dance to Thriller. Peak cinema if you ask me.
Another montage! Gotta love a film from the early 2000s, they always had multiple montages.
The end of this film is too cute for me to not include it. The pink house that looks exactly like Jenna’s dream house from the beginning, AH, it’s too much.
Best quotes and one liners
LUCY: What did you do last night?
JENNA: Well see, that’s the thing. Something really strange is happening. I- I slept in an apartment I’ve never seen before and, there was a naked man in my shower and I- I saw his thingy!
LUCY: Oh, God. Not his thingy!
JENNA: Please listen to me! I’M THIRTEEN!
LUCY: Jenna, if you’re gonna start lying about your age, I’d go with 27.
RICHARD: That’s right, baby. Who’s your daddy?
JENNA: Wayne Rink!
MATT: We’re not friends anymore, Jenna.
JENNA: Matty, you’re my best friend!
MATT: No. Okay…it’s cool…it’s cool.
JENNA: Is it warm in here?
MATT: It’s – It’s- it’s….maybe I should open a window….
JENNA: I think I need some fresh air.
MATT: Fresh air..
JENNA: And a glass of water and a fluffy pillow please?
MATT: You want a glass of water? Have a seat. I’ll get- I’ll get you some. You want a- a glass of water? You want ice in that?
JENNA: I WANT A FLUFFY PILLOW!
BECKY: Thanks. I like your dress.
JENNA: It’s ’cause I’ve got these incredible boobs to fill it out!
JENNA: You know what? You are rude and mean and sloppy and frizzy. I don’t like you at all.
LUCY: I was gonna stop by your office. I actually tried to call you a bunch of times.
JENNA: I didn’t get any messages.
LUCY: I was in a hurry. But I did try to reach you. I actually wanted to talk to you about this whole redesign thing. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve sort of been working on something on my own – it’s really last minute…I hope you don’t mind.
JENNA: No. Of course not. ‘Cause I’m doing the same thing.
JENNA: Tell me something. What colour is my tongue?
MATT: What? What?!
JENNA: What colour is my tongue? What colour is it?
MATT: It’s red. I dunno – Red.
JENNA: Red, red? Or – or tongue red?
MATT: Razzle red.
JENNA: Who are these women? Does anyone know? I don’t recognize any of ’em. I want to see my best friend’s big sister and the girls from the soccer team, my next-door neighbour. Real women who are smart and pretty and happy to be who they are. These are the women to look up to. Let’s put LIFE back into the magazine and FUN and laughter and silliness. I think all of us want to feel something that we’ve forgotten or turned our backs on because maybe we didn’t realize how much we were leaving behind. We need to remember what used to be good. If we don’t, we won’t recognize it even if it hits us between the eyes.
JENNA: I love you, Matt. You’re my best friend.
MATT: Jenna, I’ve always loved you.
Most iconic outfit
I think we all know what wins this category. It’s the dress. You know, the one Jenna wears to the magazine party. If you aren’t aware of what I’m talking about, it’s in both the “getting ready for the party” and “Thriller” scene. It’s instantly recognisable as being from this film and Jennifer Garner looks stunning in it.
Best musical moment
The Jessie’s Girl music video plays when Jenna is getting ready for her birthday party and oh my what an excellent 80s tune.
I’m including this here because it’s technically a musical moment and I feel like I’m oversaturating the favourite scenes section. This really gave me high expectations for how fun sleepovers would be. Turns out the friends I had at that age didn’t like doing things like this, boring.
Final thoughts and fun facts
The love I have for this film is way too intense. The actual premise of it is really strange, especially when you remember that she has the mind of a 13-year-old but is kissing men and stuff. Very strange, but it holds so much nostalgia for me.
The casting of the younger actors was actually insane, especially for Jenna and Lucy. They look so much like their older counterparts.
The Poise article that Jenna is reading at 13 years old (“Thirty, Flirty & Thriving”) features the apartment in which she later lives in when she’s 30 years old.
The blindfold Jenna is wearing when she is 13 years old is made out of the same material and pattern as the eye cover she is wearing when she wakes up when she is 30. The blindfold and eye cover were both designed by Cris Notti, an accessories designer based out of Los Angeles.
I completely forgot that Andy Serkis is in this film. It’s actually hilarious. I’m so used to seeing him in serious roles and I’ve seen this film a billion times so I should remember that he’s in it.
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