The 2000s were a pivotal era for romantic comedies, with many actors finding their creative breakthrough through them. As an avid romcom watcher, I have seen my fair share of notable films. Nevertheless, a movie that has had jaws dropping (including mine) for well over two decades and is personally one of my all-time favorites is “13 Going on 30,” which was released back on April 23, 2004.

The film begins with the main character, 13-year-old Jenna Rink (played by Christa B. Allen and Jennifer Garner), in junior high school, and, of course, she absolutely despises every aspect of it. For many, this is not an unfamiliar topic, so I appreciated that representation. Jenna struggles to make friends with people, and the only companion she really has is Matt Flamhaff (played by Sean Marquette and Mark Ruffalo).

Jenna is looking for a boyfriend, but, unfortunately, she’s unable to find one. As a result, she wishes to be an adult in the hopes that her journey through life will become easier. The next morning, she wakes up 30 years old and is completely launched into having to make big girl decisions, including finding the love of her life.

I relate to Jenna so much, not only because we have the same name, but because I love how Garner was able to portray that awkward gap between teenage years and adulthood. As someone who is somewhat in that gap, Jenna’s character was a huge breath of fresh air, which is one of the many things that the writers and Garner deserve recognition for.

I also enjoyed the fact that we have a romcom where the main character does not immediately find the love of their life without any problem. Jenna actually struggled to admit she was attracted to Matt, initially only seeing him as a friend. As an adult, however, Matt had his own girlfriend and was not attracted to Jenna at first when they reunited. This conflict leads to the buildup of their relationship, which makes the film more savory.

Additionally, the cinematic quality of the movie is astounding. The way the camera often pans to show every angle and emotion was an amazing touch.

Overall, this film was breathtaking, making it a powerful, timeless piece that people can love for years to come. “13 Going on 30” is the pinnacle of an amazing 2000s movie and is one of the reasons why 2000s romcoms are one of the best movie genres.