13 Going on 30

Sony's Blu-ray presentation of "13 Going on 30" offers an engaging visual experience, encapsulated in a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer that showcases the movie's colorful and vibrant aesthetic. The widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio beautifully captures the essence of the film, perfectly balancing the saturated and lively colors against naturally deep blacks, ensuring each scene pops with an energetic flair. Notably, the film’s color palette—ranging from the bright and punchy to the nuanced shades reminiscent of the '80s—translates superbly in high definition. This is evident in both indoor and outdoor scenes, where the enhanced detail and texture bring to life the intricate set pieces, costumes, and complexions. Despite a minor quibble with a slight horizontal line ripple in pre-production samples and occasional light grain, the overall picture quality maintains an impressive clarity and depth that enriches the viewing experience.

The Blu-ray excels in rendering fine details and textures, particularly noticeable in close-ups where facial features and clothing textures are discerned with remarkable clarity. However, wide-angle shots occasionally suffer from a lack of sharpness, diminishing their depth and dimensionality. Still, the film retains its cinematic feel through a purposeful layer of grain, adding to the visual authenticity rather than detracting from it. Black levels are consistently deep across various scenes, enhancing the overall image contrast and providing a solid foundation for the vivid colors to shine. Moreover, flesh tones, despite occasionally veering towards slightly reddish hues, appear natural and contribute to the film’s authentic retro ambiance.

Sony has made a commendable effort in preserving and presenting "13 Going on 30" in a manner that mirrors the filmmakers’ original vision. From its clean print devoid of significant blemishes to its dynamic contrast and detailed presentation in both lighter and darker settings, this Blu-ray release excels. The balance between maintaining a filmic texture and delivering a crisp high-definition picture is well achieved, making this release a testament to Sony's commitment to quality. While some minor issues like speckles and a slightly visible ripple may be present, they do not detract significantly from an otherwise stellar visual presentation that does justice to this charmingly vibrant film.

The audio presentation of '13 Going on 30' on Blu-ray, delivered through an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix, showcases its strength primarily in the vibrant and engaging pop/rock tunes that define much of its auditory appeal. Emphasizing a rich and dynamic range, the soundtrack effectively utilizes the surround channels to create an immersive experience, especially during musical numbers. Despite the initial moments where dialogue may come across as slightly muddled, it generally maintains clarity throughout the film, ensuring that conversations are easily intelligible. The mix cleverly balances the music and effects, ensuring they complement rather than overwhelm the central dialogue. Subtle use of ambient sounds and discrete effects further enhance the auditory landscape, creating a well-rounded and lively auditory experience.

The soundtrack thrives on its nostalgic 1980s flair, with the music being a standout feature that benefits from the robust and bass-heavy delivery. It's noteworthy that the soundtrack predominantly capitalizes on the front channels, with minimal rear channel support, yet this does not detract from the overall warmth and inviting nature of the audio mix. The low bass is perky, adding a nice depth to the soundtrack, while maintaining a clean delivery that never interferes with the dialogue's clarity.

Sony’s effort in providing a new Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track for this release pays off, resulting in a soundtrack that is engaging for its audience. The balance between dialogue and music, along with the polished use of surround sound for the nostalgic tunes, escalates the viewing experience. Although certain scenes exhibit a front-heavy soundtrack with two-dimensional perspective, it nonetheless encapsulates a pleasing audio-visual experience. The soundtrack, despite its few shortcomings in dialogue clarity at the outset, ultimately delivers a delightful and immersive auditory experience befitting the film's lively spirit.

This Blu-ray edition of "13 Going on 30," humorously termed the Fun and Flirty Edition, comes packed with extras that cater well to its fans while offering a comprehensive look behind the scenes of this beloved film. The supplement section begins with two separate audio commentary tracks, a more engaging one from director Gary Winick, providing endearing and candid insights into the making of the feature, and a less captivating cumulative commentary by producers Susan Arnold, Gina Matthews, and Donna Roth, which, although informative, might feel somewhat underwhelming. The disc boasts a notable collection of additional content including deleted scenes, showcasing 18 cuts along with alternative beginnings and endings, which offer more depth and a few laughs but mostly comprise extended versions of scenes present in the final cut. The gag reel offers a glimpse of the light-hearted moments on set, particularly highlighting Jennifer Garner's infectious laughter. "Making of a Teen Dream" and its continuation, "Another Take," delve into the production aspects and cast experiences, albeit in an EPK-style presentation that sometimes feels promotional. "I Was a Teenage Geek," a standout featurette, charmingly explores the adolescent awkwardness of the cast including Garner, complete with nostalgic photographs. "Fashion Flashback" attempts to celebrate '80s fashion with mixed reception, whereas music video enthusiasts will appreciate the inclusion of hits like Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl." Although the entire collection of extras doesn't break new ground, it effectively provides fan service, nostalgia, and insights into the film's creation, solidifying its Blu-ray release as a fitting homage to this early-2000s rom-com.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentaries: Director Gary Winick provides an engaging solo commentary, and a group commentary features producers Susan Arnold, Gina Matthews, and Donna Roth.
• Deleted Scenes: Includes 18 scenes with an alternate beginning and ending.
• Gag Reel: Showcases bloopers and light-hearted moments from the set.
• Featurette: Making of a Teen Dream: A behind-the-scenes look into the film's production.
• Featurette: Making of a Teen Dream: Another Take: Provides additional insights into the making of the movie.
• Featurette: I Was a Teenage Geek: Cast members share their adolescent memories.
• Featurette: Fashion Flashback: A glance at '80s fashion trends.
• Music Videos: Features "Love is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield.
• Still Gallery: A collection of publicity and behind-the-scenes photographs.

"13 Going on 30," directed by Gary Winick, emerges as an endearing entry in the body-swap film genre, a category that, until its release in 2004, had seen few memorable contributions since the likes of "Freaky Friday" and "Big." The film stars Jennifer Garner, whose portrayal of Jenna Rink—a 13-year-old girl who magically becomes her 30-year-old self overnight—shines with warmth and charisma. Garner's performance, along with Mark Ruffalo's role as the grown-up Matt, Jenna's childhood friend, anchors the film's emotional core amidst its fantastical premise. Despite its predictable plot and the limited chemistry between Garner and Ruffalo, the film remains a warm, witty, and winning experience, primarily due to Garner's lovable and energetic presence.

Technical aspects of the Blu-ray presentation bolster the film's charm. The 1080p AVC/Mpeg4 transfer delivers vibrant colors and a clarity that enhances the visual storytelling, complementing the movie's early-2000s aesthetic with sharp detail. The English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track envelops viewers in the film's lively soundtrack, capturing both the pop-rock anthems and the nuanced dialogues with impeccable clarity. Fans are treated to a comprehensive array of extras, including two commentary tracks that provide fascinating insights into the filmmaking process.

At its heart, "13 Going on 30" navigates through themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery with a sincerity that transcends its magical premise. Its blend of humor, heart, and a dash of nostalgia—courtesy of its 1980s influences—makes it a standout romantic comedy. While it may not offer groundbreaking insights into human relationships or aging, it does succeed in delivering a delightful narrative that celebrates honesty, friendship, and the joy of embracing one's true self. With its solid home video presentation, Sony ensures that "13 Going on 30" remains a beloved fixture in the romantic comedy genre, appealing to both fans and newcomers alike.

The Blu-ray presentation of "13 Going on 30" is a noteworthy addition to any home theater collection, combining a delightful mix of romantic comedy charm with a high-quality audio-visual experience. Tested across an impressive array of equipment including the JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and a suite of high-end players like the Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc Player and Sony PlayStation 3, the film's vibrant colors and crisp sound come to life, especially when paired with Canton Ergo Series speakers and the powerful SV Sound PB-13 Ultra subwoofer. The technical prowess of this release, highlighted by its compatibility with such a broad range of high-end hardware, adds significant value to the viewing experience, underscoring the film's entertaining narrative with equally impressive technical delivery.

While "13 Going on 30" may not break new ground in the romantic comedy genre, its endearing storyline, punctuated by an engaging soundtrack of '80s hits and charismatic supporting roles, makes it more than just another chick flick. The Blu-ray enhances this appeal with its excellent video quality and enjoyable extras, making it not only a fantastic Valentine’s Day gift but also a title that transcends typical genre boundaries to offer broad appeal. The inclusion of superior cabling like Wireworld Ultraviolet & BetterCables Silver Serpent Reference HDMI Cabling ensures an undiminished audio-visual signal, translating into a pristine home viewing experience.

In conclusion, "13 Going on 30" on Blu-ray stands out as a top recommendation for fans of romantic comedies and high-quality home cinema alike. With its successful blend of heartwarming narrative and stellar visual and sound presentation, this release proves itself as a must-have. It transcends typical audience divisions, offering a universally enjoyable experience that leverages the best of modern home entertainment technology. Whether for a special occasion or as an addition to your collection, this Blu-ray delivers both in content and quality, making it a valuable addition for any aficionado of the genre or enthusiast of home theater excellence.