--- title: "13 Going on 30: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # 13 Going on 30 (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 13 reviews: 4 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics lean the same way: 13 Going on 30 is a frothy, good-natured romantic comedy that nobody mistakes for anything more, and the praise clusters almost entirely on Jennifer Garner. Review after review finds her guileless, energetic and funny, and several say she is the reason the body-swap fantasy works at all. A few also warm to her awkward chemistry with Mark Ruffalo, and the later notices, written years after release, are the fondest of the lot. The reservations are about everything around her. The premise is called derivative, the plot predictable, the magazine-publishing subplot overlong and full of holes. The sharper dissent is over what the film is saying: The Guardian objects to the idea that grown women secretly want to behave like children, and Slant finds its picture of a happy life narrow and contradictory. The spread is fairly wide, from warm to hostile, but the bulk of the reviews settle in the middle. ## Variety — Joe Leydon Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2004. Leydon finds the recycled romantic-comedy premise sprightly and entertaining, with strong commercial appeal. He especially praises Jennifer Garner’s energetic, expressive comic performance. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/13-going-on-30-1200534072/) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review finds the film cheerfully entertaining despite flaws in its logic and magazine-publishing plot. It praises Jennifer Garner’s guileless comic charm, while wishing the film had made more of its time-travel premise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/13-going-30-review/) ## Screen Daily — Jean Oppenheimer Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2004. The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is unavailable in the visible text. No praise or complaint can be determined from the accessible content. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/13-going-on-30/4018252.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 23 April 2004. The page appears to be a review of the film, but its text is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/23/movies/film-review-freaky-future-awkward-teenager-finds-herself-fast-forwarded.html) ## Time Out — LZ Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but the article text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. The available description introduces Jenna’s wish to be 30 but does not reveal what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/13-going-on-30) ## Los Angeles Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 23 April 2004. Dargis finds the comedy lightweight and overly sweet, while judging Jennifer Garner’s performance an appealing showcase for her star potential. She praises Garner’s combination of physical energy and charm, but criticizes the film’s sugary treatment of successful working women. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-23-et-dargis23-story.html) ## Radio Times — Sloan Freer Rating 3/5. The critic finds the film cute, frothy and charming despite its plot holes. Jennifer Garner’s delightful, authentic-feeling performance is singled out for making the fantasy work. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-42kvzk/13-going-on-30/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 4 August 2004. The review finds the film a charming, good-natured rom-com despite its predictability and derivative premise. It especially praises Jennifer Garner’s magnetic, funny performance for elevating the material. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/13-going-on-30-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 1.5/4. 11 April 2004. Gonzalez criticizes the film’s contradictory message about women and its narrow idea of happiness, despite its mockery of fashion-magazine culture. He singles out Jennifer Garner’s effervescent performance and the “Thriller” dance routine for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/13-going-on-30/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2004. Bradshaw finds the film only occasionally funny and says its premise lacks comic flair. He criticizes its suggestion that adult women yearn to behave like children. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,1276874,00.html) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2021. Anderton finds the film silly but irresistibly charming, and says it succeeds where Big falls short. He especially praises Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo’s chemistry and the film’s romantic angle. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/580518/the-quarantine-stream-13-going-on-30/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 3 out of 5. 5 March 2009. Brew finds the film predictable but glossy, amiable, and good fun. He especially praises Jennifer Garner’s likability and comic performance. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/13-going-on-30-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2004. Wilkinson finds the film enjoyable despite its formulaic, predictable plot, but says it does not hold up well for older viewers. She praises Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo’s performances and their awkward chemistry, while criticizing the overlong magazine subplot. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/13-going-on-30-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30.md