You've seen this movie before, in one form or another. 'Big' covered similar ground back in 1988. Basically, this is nothing more than a star vehicle for Jennifer Garner, a breezy film designed to see if she can open a movie and carry it to respectable numbers at the box office. Alas, she acquits herself nicely and pulls off her first starring picture very smoothly. No complaints here...she is a pleasant and easy-on-the-eyes presence and her flair for comedy is apparently inherent in her personality. This is the perfect type of role for her. That's not to say that she wouldn't be just as effective at action or drama (see 'Alias'), but it seems to me that she is a natural for comedy.
The story involves a geeky 13 year old, Jenna Rink, who, while waiting in the closet during a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven at a junior high school party one night, inadvertently sprinkles magic wishing dust on herself, while simultaneously wishing that she was 30 and a grown up. You see where this is going. Big surprise the next morning when she wakes up as...Jennifer Garner, now a hotshot editor at a trendy New York magazine. Of course, Jenna has no recollection of the past 17 years and various comedy bits ensue as she tries to fit into her life as a 30 year old with the brain of a 13 year old. Of course this being a Hollywood movie, there needs to be a love interest. He arrives in the form of Mark Ruffalo (collecting a paycheck, but still winsome) as Matt, Jenna's childhood friend who has grown from a pudgy adolescent into a moderately attractive man. The villain in the story comes in the form of Lucy (Judy Greer - love her!!), a childhood popular girl who is now Jenna's colleague at the magazine and best "friend".
Because it's such a simple story, the actors are allowed to have a little fun and not take the film so seriously. It shows too, through Garner's obvious glee and dimply smile and the other actor's apparent pleasure at being in such a light-hearted, feel-good movie. No real deep, heavy emotions are required for them to tap into, so they are permitted to have a good time. Luckily, the director (Gary Winick - 'Tadpole') doesn't sabotage the good time by bringing too heavy a hand to the film. He keeps it just as light and breezy as his actors, and the whole film has a nice, polished, sunny day look.
All in all, a movie to watch if you are in a bad mood or a bit of a funk. The cast wants you to have a good hour and forty minutes or so and to walk out smiling. Mission accomplished for this critic.
The story involves a geeky 13 year old, Jenna Rink, who, while waiting in the closet during a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven at a junior high school party one night, inadvertently sprinkles magic wishing dust on herself, while simultaneously wishing that she was 30 and a grown up. You see where this is going. Big surprise the next morning when she wakes up as...Jennifer Garner, now a hotshot editor at a trendy New York magazine. Of course, Jenna has no recollection of the past 17 years and various comedy bits ensue as she tries to fit into her life as a 30 year old with the brain of a 13 year old. Of course this being a Hollywood movie, there needs to be a love interest. He arrives in the form of Mark Ruffalo (collecting a paycheck, but still winsome) as Matt, Jenna's childhood friend who has grown from a pudgy adolescent into a moderately attractive man. The villain in the story comes in the form of Lucy (Judy Greer - love her!!), a childhood popular girl who is now Jenna's colleague at the magazine and best "friend".
Because it's such a simple story, the actors are allowed to have a little fun and not take the film so seriously. It shows too, through Garner's obvious glee and dimply smile and the other actor's apparent pleasure at being in such a light-hearted, feel-good movie. No real deep, heavy emotions are required for them to tap into, so they are permitted to have a good time. Luckily, the director (Gary Winick - 'Tadpole') doesn't sabotage the good time by bringing too heavy a hand to the film. He keeps it just as light and breezy as his actors, and the whole film has a nice, polished, sunny day look.
All in all, a movie to watch if you are in a bad mood or a bit of a funk. The cast wants you to have a good hour and forty minutes or so and to walk out smiling. Mission accomplished for this critic.