This past week I found out that the movie 13 Going on 30 was on Netflix. She spends most of the film trying to reconnect with childhood friend/love interest Matt (Mark Ruffalo) and coming to terms with adulthood. Kelsey mentioned chocolate chip pancakes. The ending of the movie is what fans always wait for. Your email address will not be published. 2004. Exploring different styles is important, but finding clothes that you feel most comfortable and confident in is even more significant. 13 Going On 30 is a bit confusing title, so they decided on a simple version of it and called "Suddenly 30." suddenly 30 is quite simple and accurate for the plotline. Did Jenna never get her job at Poise? The film dealt with many relatable adolescent struggles, from mean girls in matching outfits to the awkwardness of puberty, while still staying firmly within the rom-com mould. The lyrics seem to parade in one ear and out the other. He [kept] coming up to me and going, Bring it down, just bring it down,'"Serkis explained of his director's instructions. But I can hopefully elevate it and make it better than it is. 2023 OtakuKart.com. During the appointment, the doctor says she can't find anything wrong with Jenna and compliments her tattoo. For example, at Miami University, I see a lot of girls in sororities wearing similar outfits throughout the day. It has hints of adult sexuality, alcohol consumption and strong language, which will alienate neither end of the age range . Jenna Rink, a teen, wakes up one morning in the body of her 30-year-old self in the 2004 film. [1], On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 65% based on reviews from 179 critics, with an average rating of 6.20/10. Greer played Lucy Wyman, Garners foe, in the cult classic. Were excited to hear from you! All I could ever want was to live happily ever after in a pink dream house with whomever I ended up marrying. Dressing for you and not for others is easier said than done. I can only assume the envelopes contain checks for her dirty work, but we never find out what's inside. Plus, for your first 10 articles, youll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. Rewatching it at 23, I noticed more details than when I watched it originally at age 9. 13. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. Despite Wendys desire for Matt to relocate to Chicago, he and Jenna begin to fall in love. ", In the documentary, Greer said she was encouraged to say or do anything while filming "13 Going on 30. Actor: Jennifer Garner , Mark Ruffalo , Judy Greer , Andy Serkis , Kathy Baker , Samuel Ball , Marcia DeBonis , Phil Reeves , Sean . Rethinking the discussion on gun violence and weapons ownership in the United States. I literally read it and I'm like 'I can't do this movie. While Jenna waits in a closet, blindfolded, for one of the boys to kiss her, the Six Chicks and the boys leave with their schoolwork accomplished, and Matty discovers Jenna alone. #TheSharksQuiz: Juaben SHS vs Ghana National College - Facebook . This movie came out in 2004, and I have a very fond memory of seeing it with mom after going out to a fancy restaurant, we even snuck in our white chocolate bourbon bread pudding in my mom's purse. Also Read:Batwoman Season 3 Episode 12 Release Date: What Is Marquis Planning To Do With Jokers Joy Buzzer? Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Action & Adventure. Its about feeling like a grown up in a way that would make your younger self proud. Jenna rips up the homework she did for them, and with this second chance, Jenna lives the 17 years that have passed differently, with her and Matt emerging as a newly married couple in 2004. ", 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. She knows how to take something that looks like nothing and spin it," Garner said. Looking for a way to spend your summer doing something creative and fulfilling? Nearly 15 years ago, 13 Going on 30a body-swapping rom-com in the vein of Bigarrived in theaters and charmed audiences everywhere. Yes, I know I should be focusing on my plethora of upcoming tests and projects that will be due soon but that's my problem now, isn't it? Every single Jennifer Garner movie, ranked, 11 of Jennifer Garner's best outfits from roles, The 10 best and 10 worst Netflix original romantic comedies of all time. about the Netflix drama's finale and shocking twist. Before the younger versions of Jenna, Matty, and Lucy were cast, the older actors were going to portray younger versions of themselves. Another cast member of 13 Going on 30 is Mark Ruffalo. The island's only remaining inhabitant decides to stay with this dead wife and kids . There aren't a TON of acting jobs for preteen girls out there unless you take the straight-to-Disney route. In the new plotline, if they did work together, would it be weird for Jenna to see her old middle school/ high school bully every day because she never became popular? Metascore. Jenna overhears Lucy intending to cut her out of her redesign presentation as the faltering magazine is compelled to redesign. That's basically where we sit in the finale of The Boys Season 3. The movie's popular clique the Six Chicks featured two stars you might recognize today Ashley Benson of "Pretty Little Liars" fame and Academy Award-winner Brie Larson. After Melanie, Evie, and Evie's legal guardian Brooke (Deborah Kara Unger) confront . Garner, Ruffalo, Greer, Andy Serkis, and Larson have all had roles in Marvel-based movies. Here are the top three response articles of last week: People havent always been there for me but music always has. Taylor Swift. But do we really need to dress to impress? While delighting in and stumbling through her adult life, she spends time with and advises other teenagers; saves a dull office party by leading the guests, including Matty, in an impromptu "Thriller" line dance; and meets Matty's fiance, Wendy. It's been 30 years since Trading Places came out. Director Gary Winickmade a name for himself with the 2000 film Tadpole, and became a pioneer of the indie film scene, advocating for digital technology and how it could turn storytellers into bona fide filmmakers. [30][31], Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times wrote: "The performances give the movie more flavor and life than the situation does; it often feels like prechewed Bubble Yum. Jenna wakes up to find that not only does she have a boyfriend, which is all she ever wanted at 13, but that Alex is a hot, better version of Chris Grandy (the boy she liked at 13) AND he's a professional hockey player. She requests Michael Jackson's Thriller and starts doing the dance solo. 10 K-pop Groups Whose Contract Will End In 2023, 50 Best Adventure Anime On Netflix That Will Take You On A Journey. "I remember being mean to her in scenes, and then after a cut just being like, 'Ugh, I'm so sorry.' Did she become such a follower that she followed Jenna to the same college and got a job with her? But slowly more and more people come and do the dance with her and they do it as if MJ himself, taught them the moves. Yeah! In high school, I worked in a casual restaurant that served soup so I wasnt dressing to impress there either. (In fact, a 2018 survey found that only 44% of Canadians under 35 have full-time gigs.) By I recommend this, to any fan of the . At times I tried to keep up with the trends but most of the time I found that I was always late to them. Throughout season 1, Danny creates a load of problems for his siblings and parents, while John and his father try to get him to leave again. Downloads only available on ad-free plans. Between letters and bills, you can actually see an envelope that says SPARKLE across the top of it that is identical to the stack Lucy finds in Jenna's office later. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing. I really love to write articles related to entertainment, movies, and web series. [17] In its third week, it fell to number five, earning $5.5 million. In the documentary, Susie Desanto, the film's costume designer, said the clothes each character wears is representative of their growth. Synopsis. [18] In its fourth week, it took sixth place with an estimated $4.2 million. Still, I would love to eat Razzles with someone in my very own pink dream house. A kid of 13 can seem like an adult, but that can be deceptive, she said. What a small world. NOTE: This spoiler was sent in by Skipper who says. In the end, 13 Going on 30 is a decent, charming chick flick that should appeal to it's target audience. They uncover everything about him that I promised myself I would forget. He also wrote that "the best stuff involves the childhood preamble. They're leaving and you're the last one of the group left at school. The American Psycho director Mary Harron explained the ending as slightly fumbled it's not meant to be the case that all of this happened in Patrick Bateman's head. Jenna's best friend and next-door neighbor, Matt "Matty" Flamhaff, who is secretly in love with her, gives her a pink dollhouse that he made himself and sprinkles the roof with "magic wishing dust." It wasn't until I IMDB'd the movie that I realized Richard is played by Andy Serkis who is a famed character actor known for his roles of Ceaser in The Planet of the Apes movies and Gollum from The Lord of the Rings movies (including the Hobbit). The sights, sounds, and smells of a summer day in your hometown. Your brain hurts. Are you caught up with the latest trends on Odyssey? Garner played Elektra in both 2003's "Daredevil" and 2005's "Elektra." "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below." 13 Going on 30 is simply an iconic American rom-com.The coming-of-age story includes the unforgettable Thriller routine, many quotable moments, that colorful Versace dress we all have wanted, and, of course, great on-screen chemistry between Matty (Mark Ruffalo) and Jenna (Jennifer Garner). [19] In its fifth week, it fell to number seven, with an estimated $2.5 million. . The wishing dust on the dream house blows over her,and then she is back to being 13. Judy Greer plays Lucy, who Jenna knows both as a kid and works with as an adult. I might have dinged 30-year-old Jenna for probably not owning or frequently wearing the psychedelic mini dress with rhinestones and underboob cutouts (seriously, if she owned that thing, it would have been in the BACK of her closet) but the rest of her wardrobe is quintessential early 2000's style. During the appointment, the doctor says she can't find anything wrong with Jenna and compliments her tattoo. These chains still hold me to someone who left a long time ago. Despite the happy ending, I had a lot of questions that needed to be answered. Even though Ive seen 13 Going on 30 dozens of times, when I watched that scene recently, it made me tear up, reminding me of the many times that things did not go according to plan and I was left feeling like a mess of a human in need of a mom hug. Wendy informs Jenna that their wedding is the next day. At29-and-10-months, all of those things remain a work-in-progress. From a young age, girls are introduced to a culture where they are expected to dress to impress specifically the men around them. The main plots of the movie are Jenna trying to navigate life as a 13-year-old in a 30-year-old's body, her trying to figure out what went wrong with her friendship to Matty, and lastly how to keep the magazine she loves and works at, Poise, from going under. Like, by then, I figured I would definitely have my life well set up with a hot husband, a few kids, a house, an adult wardrobe, a car and a confident understanding of finances and business (i.e. If Jenna is the new leader, did she do some sort of hostile takeover and Brie just happened to be a casualty? I wonder how strong a feeling can actually get before it is too much to bear. "Me and Jennifer said, Its got to be about something,'" Winick explained. Jenna visits her childhood home in New Jersey, where she weeps in the same closet and reunites with her parents. With many college semesters coming to a close, students find themselves procrastinating. Happy May to the Odyssey community! But there are no clues that Jenna ever worked at Poise. Jenna and Mattie marry and have a happy life together. A tearful Jenna leaves with the dollhouse as remnants of the wishing dust swirl around her. Its been so long since I have felt big enough to take up and control my five foot seven figure. I think I saw three people at a high school homecoming do most of it back in 10th grade, which just solidifies my point, this is not the Cha Cha Slide, Macarena, or the Electric Slide. Setting aside other peoples opinions and dressing for you? This is a response to "Ways to Follow Clothing Trends in 2021.. Did the actors all know about the ending? Happy finals week! A young woman's brain ends up in an older woman's . Sleep well 9-year-old Anne, because this movie was NOT spoiled when you re-watched it. . You JUST met her? I realized that my struggle to feel like an adult, both as a teen and now, is really just me wanting to feel in control of my lifewhich becomes increasingly complicated with age. Winik wanted to end 13 Going on 30 with the wedding between Jenna and Matt, but the studio wanted . Want to spend your summer being creative and making some money on the side? Garner's acting earned her nominations from both the MTV Movie Awards and the Teen Choice Awards. And she dances. He's even welcomed on the last boat off the island, but he declines the invitation to start a new life. Rating 6/10. Garner also said she was a big fan of working with Ruffalo in the film. After presenting them with Jennas material, including Matts photographs, Richard informs Jenna that Lucy has been appointed as the new editor-in-chief of Sparkle. 13 Going on 30s grown-upJenna Rink, whos also 29, more than meets the criteria to be considered an adult, though. Then Robert dies and it only gets worse, as Danny gets . "[29] Mick Martin and Marsha Porter's 2005 DVD and Video Guide called it a "shameless rip-off of the Tom Hanks' classic Big", adding that it was "weak, but predictable and is sparked by the excellent performance of Jennifer Garner". Genres. I am Disha Angra, a content writing intern at Otakukart. The movie would have shown some daring savvy if it had played more with the role-playing aspect of fashion spreads. Transcript. [20] In its sixth week, the film fell to number 9, earning $1 million. [6] Judy Greer was cast to play Lucy, Garner's best friend; Kathy Baker and Phil Reeves were cast as Garner's mother and father, respectively. I love this movie, but I want Jenna to get the guy AND the dream job. Here we shall take you through the ending of rom-com 13 Going on 30. She also confirmed that she's looking forward to turning the big 3-0 herself.People always quote back 30 and flirty, and thriving,'" Allen said. The Decline . However, the two friends eventually move on with their lives. She has a full-time job at a well-respected women's mag, while the majority of millennials today particularly those in journalism are precariously employed. You show up to your 8 a.m. final with about three hours of sleep, no coffee and only half of the information you studied readily available in your mind. Jenna Rink, a geek who wants to be popular, can only persuade the Six Chicks the ruling clique lead by Tom-Tom to attend her 13th birthday party by doing their homework in 1987. It's at work where she learns that there's an important party that night. "I never consider a character I play a villain, even if they are a villain, cause real villains dont think, Im a villain,'" Greer told Today. I wonder what its like to be free. "[32] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 2 out of 4 and wrote: "You buy the magic because it comes with the territory. This is a response to Gun Violence is Real, and People Dont Come Back. While updating my wardrobe for my four months abroad, I found that more modest, loose clothing was what I felt most comfortable and confident in. I hear the last words of the song and I lift my head cautiously. A girl makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, and wakes up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman. To be honest, we had them all in these pods; they couldn't move. Join our team and let's create something amazing together! When Matty finds her in the closet, she embraces and kisses him. Ozark stars Jason Bateman, Julia Garner, and Laura Linney, and showrunner Chris Mundy tell V.F. I remember feeling relieved when I had a conversation with my boyfriend and he explained that he would love me regardless of what I wear (the only exception being the ill-fitting cat eye glasses I wore in high school but thats beside the point). 48 out of 62 found this helpful. Did Lucy in the alternate universe also still go into publishing? Messages about popularity, compassion, personal values, and having integrity/being true to yourself are delivered with insight and humor. Thats a concept that still terrifies me. None of the characters are all that bad (looking at you Parent Trap) and you do get a happy ending after all! She awakens in 2004, 30 years old and unsure of how she got there, shortly after wishing this. That seems like a 20's clubbing look to me. Watching itnow, I see that even if my life did fit exactly what my 13-year-old self envisioned, that wouldnt make it better. Lets create a culture that celebrates expression rather than forces unrealistic expectations. Its about second chances. Your work will be featured on our homepage, newsletter, and social media feed. Swinging back and forth to the strums of the guitar gently echoing, she smiles. A confused Jenna locates Matty, now a struggling photographer, in Greenwich Village in the hopes of learning what happened, only to discover that she became the new head of the Six Chicks and stopped speaking to him and that Lucy is Tom-Tom. When she becomes 30, she can hardly stop touching them at first! Watch Turns out, 30-year-old Jenna Rink has a tattoo. Detective Conan: 25 Case Closed Facts You Need To Know! Matt "Matty" Flamhaff, Jenna's best friend and next-door neighbor, who is secretly in love with her, gives her a pink . In 1987, the geeky Jenna Rink yearns to be popular, so she persuades the "Six Chicks," the ruling clique led by "Tom-Tom," to attend her thirteenth birthday party by doing their homework for them. It was written by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa and directed by Gary Winick. (In fact, a 2018 survey found that only 44% of Canadians . We also never hear about Poise again. The ending is what viewers wait for, and if its a rom-com, it gets even more interesting. on 13 Going On 30 Ending Explained: A Fresh Start To Fix Everything, What Happened To Jesse and Jeana? Here's what I noticed 13 Things I Noticed While Re-Watching '13 Going On 30', Taylor Swift Is The Music Industry by Giana Scafide, Second Amendment Rights Cannot Overshadow Our Unalienable Rights by Mia Muoz, 7 Prompts For Journaling Every Day Of The Week, Dressing for Yourself and Not Others, With Confidence and Comfort, "Ways to Follow Clothing Trends in 2021., 16 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas, From 3 To 89, Taylor Swift Has A Reputation For Referencing Ages In Her Lyrics, 8 Things Only Whitehall, PA Kids Know To Be True, 13 Roleplay Plots You Haven't Thought Of Yet, A Jonas Brothers Song For Every Day Of The Week, 10 Things That All Sorority Girls Want In Their Easter Baskets, 10 Things Every Montana State Student Has Wondered. Want even more FASHION? I stopped trying to be cool; I lost my mum to cancer; I decided to go to therapy regularlyand each of those milestones made me feel more adult than a car ever could. [7] It was filmed in Los Angeles, New York City, and South Pasadena, California. "Where we're . Matt comes in and they kiss. We can assume because they end up getting married, that the two stay together all throughout high school and probably college and that Jenna never rose to popularity and took over the Six Chicks. Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. Jenna locates Mattys location. But I grew in different ways, ways that I couldnt have predicted at 13. Leydon praised director Gary Winick for "bringing a fresh spin to most of the script's clichs and emphasizing nuggets of emotional truth provided by Goldsmith and Yuspa. "This movie was pretty much an average chick-flick.the events might be slightly out of order" . When you don't know what to write, consult yourself.. Realizing that Lucy is not a true friend, she destroys the homework she worked on for the Six Chicks and eventually goes on to become happily married to Matty and move into a suburban house that resembles the dollhouse. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising Garner's performance and its nostalgic environment. Some might even say a little too good, I for one wore Crocs at 13 but to each their own. Lucy reveals herself to be the adult Tom-Tom, who has undergone plastic surgery. Because maybe we didnt realize how much we were leaving behind. In that moment, shes talking about her shot at love with puppy-dog-in-human-form Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo)but watching it now, this sentiment hit home for me. Summer is right around the corner, and we're thrilled to welcome it with you. Watch all you want. I dont know how well we ended up fitting in, especially when we were speaking English most of the time, but nonetheless. Underlying the shenanigans and the pop-psychology moralself-love is a prerequisite for true lovethere's a touching wistfulness about roads not taken. I've asked my mom about this and she said pretty much no one she knew could do the dance perfectly, and she grew up during the height of its popularity. The top five things on your summer bucket list this year. Okay, I get it. Need some creative inspiration? I literally read it and I'm like 'I can't do this movie. [38] The Blu-ray version of 13 Going on 30 was released on January 20, 2009. In the end, 13 Going on 30 is a decent, charming chick flick that should appeal to it's target audience. [16] In its second week, it dropped to number three, earning $9 million. Gary and the producers all thought she looked so much like me, but I think shes so cute, Greer said. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly following the director's passing, Garner shared just how much she loved working with Winickon13 Going on 30.Gary and I had the most successful collaboration possible," she said. Her final fight with Alain is brutal, simply framed and impossible not to watch. Its trendy right now to rewatch classic rom-coms and critique them by todays standards to see if they hold up. To me, the magic of13 Going on 30is as real as that day I stumbled across the set in New York City, even though my takeaway has changed. As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. Bellamy doesn't give . And then theres Jennas hockey-star BF, and other not-so-official romantic partners. Entertainment Weekly broke down just how much it would cost real-life Jenna and Matt to live in Manhattan, and it turned out to be a pretty tidy sum: Jennas Fifth Avenue apartment would cost $5 million, or $10,000 per month to rent. After total humiliation at her thirteenth birthday party, Jenna Rink wants to just hide until she's thirty. Chan-young's death is a huge loss in Thirty-Nine, one that leaves Mi-jo and Joo-hee grieving for a long time. How do you pass that up? In the closet when TomTom tells her Chris goes to second base, she takes the tissues out again. What happened to Brie? I can't get up and do those scenes. Moreover, Jenna learns from Kneeland that Lucy became the new editor-in-chief of Sparkle by using Jenna's presentation. 2004 | Maturity Rating: 6 | 1h 37m . Have you watched 13 Going on 30? Stream It Or Skip It: 'Mack and Rita' on Hulu, a Desperate Body-Swap Comedy Starring a Flailing Diane Keaton. Watch offline. A lawyer for the writer E. Jean Carroll told a Manhattan jury on Tuesday that former President Donald J. Trump viciously raped her client one evening nearly 30 years ago in a department store . First premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film centers on Margot (Taylor-Joy) who is being taken by her both abundantly annoying and absurdly wealthy . Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Youve finished packing and found out you passed all of your classes! Alexandra Kyle played the 13-year-old version of Greer's character, Lucy. And then sometimes I remember we would be in the middle of a scene, and they would cut, and she would just be like, 'You're so mean!'". Even though there was a camera crew blocking my view and a perturbed PA urging me to move along, catching a glimpse of this scene was a bit of wishing dust-level magic. [13] In October 2016, it was announced 13 Going on 30 was going to be adapted for Broadway with an estimated debut in late 2017, but plans did not move forward.[14]. Screaming is absolutely inevitable. Does she still take over Sparkle? In a weird way, the coloration makes sense because 80's Jenna's pattern is bright and bold which is understandable for the 80's and 2000's Jenna's pattern is more muted and toned down which was popular then also, but the colors bear a good resemblance to the blindfold and they both cover her eyes in back to back scenes. During her birthday party, however, she is humiliated by her classmates, and she . If I could meet my 13-year-old self, with her box-dyed burgundy hair, oversized Claires earrings and unabashed belief that I was destined for a rom-com-worthy life, I think I would be afraid of her. I think back to the day I met him; the day I started loving someone more than I have ever loved myself. Mark Ruffalo almost turned down his role because he didn't want to dance in the "Thriller" scene. I doubt the whole room knew how to do it. Also, side note: this is my favorite outfit from the whole film, but I HIGHLY doubt a 30-year-old woman, much less an editor of a fashion magazine would wear this. By John Serba Dec 23, 2022. Backpacking across Europe? 2 min read. Its the same reason that Jenna winds up back at her parents house when everything falls aparta scene that with the uncertainty of employment, housing and romantic prospects, feels all too real today. When Jenna goes back in time to her original 13-year-old body, she bursts out of the closet and kisses Matty. No shade to them, everyone has their own style that they like and feel confident in. It seems like just yesterday we were cooing over the burgeoning romance between Jennifer Garner's Jenna and Mark Ruffalo's Matt, or marveling at infamous scene-stealer Judy Greer's ability to make an apparently horrible character still seem like someone you'd want to be friends with. "[26] Joe Leydon of Variety also praised her performance, writing "Garner throws herself so fully and effectively into the role that in a few key scenes, she vividly conveys Jenna's high spirits and giddy pleasure through the graceful curling of her toes." Also, I understand you're moving into your new house, but take your feet off the WHITE COUCH. Shouldnt those around us love us for us rather than the clothes we are wearing? The movie is funny and offers positive messages to kids. Haven't done anything all day Time to start cramming. [11] Principal photography took place from May to November 2003. She dances, but she does not hear the same song as me. When Matty discovers what happened, a humiliated Jenna tearfully wishes to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving" as the wishing dust falls on her. Follow us on social media. Jenna reawakens to find herself back in 1987 on her thirteenth birthday. There will be lots of other young girls there? Poise has been scooped by rival magazine Sparkle so many times that editor-in-chief Richard fears someone is leaking information to them. I understand being a little shocked at first but you mean to tell me her little 13-year-old brain has never been REMOTELY curious about what a man's body looks like? In an interview with The Telegraph, Winickexplained that the studio was adamant that he stage the dance scene.I kept saying What does that have to with the story? and they kept saying We need to put it in the trailers. I had to force them to make it work as part of the narrative., Ultimately, the dance isnt in the movie just to be there: Jenna gets her co-workers and friends to dance as a way to save a magazine launch party. And even though hes portraying a struggling photographer, he manages to cough up $5000 a month in rent. In the latter respect '13 Going On 30' invites scomparison to the wonderful film 'The Devil Wears Prada', also set in the office of a New York fashion magazine. Jenna decides to go to Matt's wedding and arrives early. Ashley Benson also appeared in the movie. Today is not OK. Christa B. Allen didn't have any acting experience before this movie, but, in the documentary, Garner said Allen really resembled her teenage self, which is one of the reasons she was cast. Earlier in the movie, we see Jenna at 13 practicing the dance moves so, of course, she knows them. Jenna returns to her childhood home in New Jersey, where she reunites with her parents and reconciles with Matty and hires him to help with her presentation as they gradually fall for each other. "[33] Andrea Gronvall of the Chicago Reader wrote that "The formula works, thanks in large part to star Jennifer Garner, who's so radiant theaters should be stocking sunblock. The now-iconic scene in the film where Jenna and Matty spontaneously nail Michael Jackson's "Thriller" dance almost didn't happen. In the documentary, Garner said "nothing was more fun" than watching Ruffalo try to learn the "Thriller" dance. "[25] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: "The possibilities of Jenna's confusion are exploited for full comic effect.