#no i don't know why i'm doing feminist analysis of a movie from 2004

[thebreakfastgenie]

The other thing about 13 Going On 30 is that there aren't really positive female friendships or female friends. The closest it gets is Jenna's relationship with her assistant. There's her friendship with her 13-year-old neighbor in 2004, but the main purpose that serves in the story is showing that Jenna is still young inside (literally); the point is that she bonds with Becky and ultimately the other girls because she is 13. But we are seeing grown-up Jennifer Garner so while it's fairly wholesome, it's similar to 2004 Jenna trying to flirt with a 13-year-old boy, or eating junk food in bed, or squealing over her limo ride, or drinking piña coladas. The "good" friend is Matt, a boy, who is also the love interest. And we're supposed to think Lucy is evil.... 13-year-old TomTom is certainly a cruel bully, but 30-year-old Lucy? She's not the nicest person on the planet, but she's extremely loyal to Jenna until she finds out Jenna has been betraying her/their entire office. Making Matt both the best friend and the love interest sets up a narrative where Jenna is choosing between friends (the six chicks) and a boyfriend (Matt) and the boyfriend is the correct choice.