This Beloved Rom-Com Couple Just Reunited for a New Movie

And it has a surprising connection to the film that first brought them together.

While some romantic comedy couples seem like they're in danger of breaking up immediately after the credits roll, others were built to withstand the test of time. For fans of 13 Going on 30, that includes Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo) and Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner), two childhood friends who reconnect years later after 13-year-old Jenna magically wishes to become the 30-year-old version of herself. Nearly two decades after the film's release in 2004, audiences are still attached to these two, as evidenced by the social media reaction to Ruffalo and Garner reuniting on Instagram. Keep reading to find out what's brought the actors back together again, and for more sweet flicks, check out The Best Romantic Comedy of All Time, According to Critics.

Mark Ruffalo was the first to share the reunion selfie.

Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner Instagram seflie
markruffalo/Instagram

"Reconnecting with an old pal," the 53-year-old actor captioned the cozy pic. "Anyone know where we can get Razzles in Canada?"

The Razzles bit, of course, is a reference to 13 Going on 30. The candy/gum hybrid is a favorite of the kid versions of their characters, and Jenna re-introduces adult Matt to them when she pops back into his life.

The second part of that question is a clue—the actors are together in Canada for a reason…

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Garner also captioned the photo with a reference any self-respecting 13 Going on 30 fan would instantly recognize.

Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30
Sony Pictures Releasing

"Wishing dust worked!" the 48-year-old actor wrote. "And I got a perfect day with my old pal."

The wishing dust Matt buys Jenna for her birthday is what makes her wake up in the future in the film. And it's how she gets back to her childhood when she realizes that she made a huge, unfixable mistake dumping him for the popular kids.

For another 13 Going on 30 throwback, check out This Actor Who Played Young Jennifer Garner Looks Exactly Like Her Now.

The rom-com co-stars are finally going to be onscreen together again.

Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo in 2004
Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

As People reports, this 13 Going on 30 reunion was a professional one. Garner and Ruffalo are both in the cast of the movie The Adam Project, also starring Ryan ReynoldsZoe Saldana, and Catherine Keener. The science fiction film, which is currently filming and being produced for Netflix, doesn't have a release date yet.

But it does have a pretty blatant connection to the comedy that first brought Ruffalo and Garner together. According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Adam Project is about a man (Reynolds) "who travels back in time to get help from his 13-year-old self. Together, they have to find their late father, who is now the same age as Reynolds, and set things right in order to save the future."

For some recent hits you may have missed, This Is the Best Movie of 2020, According to Critics.

Ruffalo may have accidentally revealed the identity of Garner's character.

Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell on The Adam Project set
vancityreynolds/Instagram

THR reports that Ruffalo is playing Reynolds' character's dad in the film. (The image above is from a video Reynolds posted from the set with the young version of his character, played by Walker Scobell.) The Deadline announcement of Garner's casting included no information about who she'll be portraying. In fact, she doesn't even have a character name listed on the movie's IMDB page.

However, Ruffalo, who's known for letting the occasional spoiler slip, may have spilled the beans on social media. On his Instagram in late January, Reynolds shared some on-set photos of him and Ruffalo shooting a scene together. There's a crumpled, smoking car in some of the shots with them, hinting that the scene occurs after an accident. In a comment, Ruffalo said, "Your mother (@jennifer.garner) is going to be very upset about her Subaru," which certainly makes it seem like the two off-screen friends and onscreen love interests are his parents in the film.

As the shoot continues, fans can hope for more behind-the-scenes photos on social media—and maybe even a 13 Going on 30 Easter egg or two in the finished product.

And for more casting choices garnering attention, check out See James Gandolfini's Lookalike Son as Tony in the "Sopranos" Prequel.

Sage Young
Sage Young is the Deputy Entertainment Editor at Best Life, expanding and honing our coverage in this vertical by managing a team of industry-obsessed writers. Read more
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