... is "13 Going on 30" (2004).
I just finished watching this cinematic gem, and it's official; E.C. Henry's favorite rom-com of all time is "13 Going on 30."
Why, you might ask? Well-p, this movie works for me. It is romantic. It is funny. And it is well-done. Is "13 Going on 30" the "perfect" movie? I wouldn't go that far, but "13 Going on 30" has a lot of things working for it.
First off, "13 Going on 30" has a GREAT supporting cast: Judy Greer as Lucy Wyman: the buddy but really an antagonist ; then there's Andy Serkis' "Richard" the gay, British boss.
But let's cut through the chase, the biggest thing "13 Going on 30" has working for it is the fact that this movie has the ablility to move ME at an emotional level -- which very few rom-com's do.
Is Jennifer Garner's "Jenna Rink" the greatest female lead in rom-com history? No. Not even close. Heck, watching this movie I don't think her character is really a close match/believable continuation of the 13-year-old version of Jenna Rink played by Christa B. Allen. But the success "13 Going on 30" is not dependant on Jennifer Gardner pulling that feat off. Don't get me wrong, Jennifer Gardner did a fine job -- nothing to be ashamed of here -- Jennifer Garner's Jenna Rink had an epervescence about her, but I don't think she captured a continuation of the character that proceeded her.
"13 Going on 30" is a rom-com fantasy. It's central message is how we can miss out on the great love of our lives because we're blinded by the moment. THAT is the lesson the heroine, Jenna Rink, is out to learn in this story.
Early in the movie she has some real bonding opportunities with the "potential" great love of of her life, Matt Flemhaff (Sean Marquette plays young Matt). She gets a dream house, but a potential romantic moment gets interrupted by their grade level's, girls bratt pack, and 13-year-old Jenna treats Matt very poorly, which as we find out as the story unfolds has dire repercussions.
The universal theme of "13 Going on 30" deals with how we deal and can recover from lost opportunities with the "potential" great loves in our own lives. There is shot in this movie that got me the first 15 or so times I saw this movie. (I know there's something wrong with me) The shot of the mature Matt Flemhaff, (Mark Ruffalo) when he looks back at Jenna Rink's door when he's waiting for the elevator to take him down. Ever had a "potential" romantic interest that you hit if off well with, then we're left wanting more, kinda kicking yourself for not making more of the moment? THAT shot has that kind of appeal to me. And it got me...
You see for a movie to be your favorite IT HAS TO CONNECT WITH YOU ON SOME EMOTIONAL LEVEL. All the film school cinematic shit that some blowhard will try to puff you up with and try to convince you that his or her way is the way you should think is all a bunch of crap. It's a form of mental manipulation, and you need to be stronger than that. Now if you're a natural follower, and thus can't help but be led by the nose by others, my prayers will be with you. Sure there are film school things to learn. Stuff you can glean from movies done creatively -- like "Annie Hall", but a great, all-time, best movie has to get you somehow emotionally. You are no one's robot. You have a mind, and should be able to make up your mind for yourself. Neither, I: E.C. Henry, nor anyone else on this planet has the right to impose their favorite move to be your favorite movie.
Sorry, Meg. The same holds true for you too. But take heart. If I was to pick the one female heroine of all-time to star in an E.C. Henry rom-com, it would be you, Meg Ryan. Why? Because you're so damn cute. To me you'll always be the personification of femine perfection. Sometimes when I look at you, it's like I'm not even looking at a real person. It's like I'm being visited by a celestial fairy. I'm talkin' a hottie fairy, not some hairy, fairy fairy. Fair enough?
Think I have some unresolved Meg Ryan issues? Look Meg, I don't want there to ever be any bad blood between you and me. And I am glad that you keep visiting my blog. AND if you ever wanna be more than friends, lemme just say I wouldn't kick you out of bed for eating crackers... Just keepin' it real, girl; even when the crux of his rabbit trail that I'm traveling down is quite unreal.
Another strong allure of "13 Going on 30" is the pull on audience's mind as to how their own high school romances played out. You see I never really had any. :( I lived in the sticks and all the girls I liked had a constant stream of jock, douche bag, boyfriends. BUT I got to sit few rows back from the girls I liked in high school. Lucky me! Then at assemblies I even got to watch the girls I liked get pawed on by their, as previously mentioned, douche bag, male accessory. The romantic ferris wheel at my high school went round and round -- but I was never invited to ride the rides.
Thus, I can totally get into Matt Flemhaff's back story. And since I'm a writer, I always wanna know what the other side is like. Jenna Rink IS that other side that I was denied growing up. She's the cool, hip, hottie, that guys like me and Matt Flemhaff watched from a distance; the elevator shot.
Now, you who read this blog, hopefully had better high school romances that I had. HENCE, "13 Going on 30" may not be your cup of tea. If that's the case, I'm glad. I would not wish my high school experience on any one -- not even Adolff Hilter! And no one ever wishes anything good for ol' Adolff.
I really like the scene up in Matt's room, where Jenna visits him on the day he's marrying Wendy from Chicago. That is real heartbreaking scene, and actors Jennifer Gardner and Matt Ruffalo pulled that scene off beautifully. You see a rom-com needs to have that tension that the romantic pairing just might not work out. And I love most rom-com movies because they have the happy endings some of never even come close to experiencing in real life. And I think that's why I watched rom-coms like "13 Going on 30" and "While You Were Sleeping " so many times. Because deep down I want something like that. Not sure if you, the reader, can relate to that, but that's allure of the romantic comedy; that somewhere, sometime, something does work out for someone. And if it worked out for them, maybe by God's divine providence it can work out for me too.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
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