13 Going on 30 [Special Edition]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Gary Winick's Big-inspired romantic comedy 13 Going on 30 debuts on DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1., and subtitles are available in both of those languages as well. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Winick as he discusses various aspects of the production, careful to lavish plenty of praise on leading actress Jennifer Garner and male lead Mark Ruffalo. A second commentary track featuring three of the film's producers has a nice slumber-party feel to it, while still offering substantial insight into how the film came together. Deleted and extended scenes, a featurette in which the cast discusses what they were like in high-school, and a pair of '80s vintage music videos round out this solid release from Columbia TriStar. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: French, English
• Features:
  • cc 18 deleted and extended scenes
  • Blooper reel
  • Two filmmaker audio commentaries
  • "I Was a Teenage Geek" featurette reveals those awkward high-school years of the cast, including Jennifer Garner
  • The Making-of 13 Going on 30
  • Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" music videos
  • "The '80s Outfit Challenge" Set-top feature allows viewers to piece together the ultimate '80s outfit, legwarmers optional
  • "Then and Now" Set-top feature compares modern-day conveniences with their '80s counterparts

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Jennifer Garner - Jenna Rink
       Mark Ruffalo - Matt Flamhaff
       Judy Greer - Lucy Wyman
       Andy Serkis - Richard Kneeland
       Kathy Baker - Beverly Rink

• Director:

  Gary Winick

• Producer:

  Susan Arnold, Gina Matthews, Donna Arkoff Roth

• Screenwriter:

  Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa

• Cinematographer:

  Don Burgess

• Composer (Music Score):

  Theodore Shapiro

• Featured Music:

  Michael Jackson

• Musical Arrangement:

  Pete Anthony, Jon Kull

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  John Houlihan

• Editor:

  Susan Littenberg

• Production Designer:

  Garreth Stover

• Art Director:

  Chris Cornwell, Raymond Kluga, Desiree Van Til

• Co-producer:

  Allegra Clegg

• Associate Producer:

  Desiree Van Til

REVIEWS:

• Independent director and producer Gary Winick goes Hollywood with 13 Going on 30, a film that does little more than remake Big by changing the gender of the protagonist. Taking the lead for the first time in a movie, Jennifer Garner gives her performance everything she has. She nails down the physical awkwardness of a 13-year-old in a suddenly grown-up body, and she gets the vocal tics just right. The screenplay itself, though not bad, fails to offer up anything original. Anyone should be able to know exactly where this film is going at all times, giving the film the unmistakable feeling that it is little more than a product. Winick keeps the audience in the film with smart casting. One sure way to spot a talented actor is to see someone transcend banal material. In Mark Ruffalo, Winick has his ace in the hole. Ruffalo does not steal his scenes, he saves them -- including a bizarre and finally winning rendition of the monster dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. Ruffalo is unable to be anything but completely believable, and he helps Garner modulate her performance so that the audience believes that everyone else in the film never questions that she is 30 even when she behaves like a 13-year-old. Judy Greer, playing the duplicitous best friend like an evil fifth cast member of Sex and the City, offers solid support. There is not a bad scene in 13 Going on 30, but simultaneously, one wishes every scene were better than it is. Had the talent of the screenwriters matched those of the performers, this film would have given Garner the same career boost that Big gave to Tom Hanks. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
• Independent director and producer {$Gary Winick} goes Hollywood with {#13 Going on 30}, a film that does little more than remake {#Big} by changing the gender of the protagonist. Taking the lead for the first time in a movie, {$Jennifer Garner} gives her performance everything she has. She nails down the physical awkwardness of a 13-year-old in a suddenly grown-up body, and she gets the vocal tics just right. The screenplay itself, though not bad, fails to offer up anything original. Anyone should be able to know exactly where this film is going at all times, giving the film the unmistakable feeling that it is little more than a product. {$Winick} keeps the audience in the film with smart casting. One sure way to spot a talented actor is to see someone transcend banal material. In {$Mark Ruffalo}, {$Winick} has his ace in the hole. {$Ruffalo} does not steal his scenes, he saves them -- including a bizarre and finally winning rendition of the monster dance from {$Michael Jackson}'s {&"Thriller"} video. {$Ruffalo} is unable to be anything but completely believable, and he helps {$Garner} modulate her performance so that the audience believes that everyone else in the film never questions that she is 30 even when she behaves like a 13-year-old. {$Judy Greer}, playing the duplicitous best friend like an evil fifth cast member of {#Sex and the City}, offers solid support. There is not a bad scene in {#13 Going on 30}, but simultaneously, one wishes every scene were better than it is. Had the talent of the screenwriters matched those of the performers, this film would have given {$Garner} the same career boost that {#Big} gave to {$Tom Hanks}. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

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