Rom-com roundup: three must-watch movies for Valentine’s Day: ‘13 Going on 30’
Grab your Razzles and your comfiest blanket, because “13 Going on 30” is the kind of rom-com that combines comedy, nostalgia and life lessons into the perfect movie. It deserves a spot on every Valentine’s Day watchlist because of how it mixes fantasy with an emotional and heartfelt love story.
The film focuses on Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner), a 13-year-old trapped in her 30-year-old body as a result of her birthday wish to be “30, flirty and thriving.”
Garner’s performance stands out because of her unwavering excitement about her new life and her accurate portrayal of teenage emotions. Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo), Rink’s childhood friend-turned love interest, is kind and charming. Their love story begins as a friendship that grows into something more, making the film more relatable.
As a fashion magazine editor, Jenna is constantly wearing elaborate outfits reminiscent of ‘80s fashion. Most notably, during the party scene, Jenna sports a multicolored mini dress with a striped sheer skirt. This dress has gone on to become a pop culture moment and popular Halloween costume. Other outfits Jenna wears have a similar aesthetic, with bright colors and intricate makeup and hairstyles that makes viewers feel nostalgic for adolescence.
After becoming 30, Jenna is enthralled with her New York City apartment, fabulous wardrobe and magazine editor job but soon realizes adulthood is not as glamorous as she’d dreamed. Her conclusion about appreciating one’s youth resonated with me because as a kid, I always wished to be older.
This aspect of the film is very unique, because most rom-coms focus solely on romance; however, “13 Going on 30” mixes a tender romance with a coming of age story, making for a lighthearted plot with emotional underpinnings.
Published and digitized February 2026.
