YMMV / The Thirteenth Year

• Alternate Character Interpretation:
  • Brutalmoose theorizes that Jess and Cody were the true romantic endgame of the film rather than Sam and Cody.
  • On the other hand, on Snapcube's podcast, Mt. Molehill, Chase theorizes that the movie, and Cody himself, is an allegory for Jesus.
• Designated Villain: Most of the time, Sean is a Jerk Jock who's clearly not meant to be likable at all. However, he's right about Cody's "cheating".
• Harsher in Hindsight: The climax where they try and save Jess became this due to actor Brent Briscoe (who plays Jess' father Big John) tragically passing away in 2017 of complications from a fall.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • The developing friendship between Cody and Jess as the latter helps the former understand his merman physiology and powers. Even when Cody loses most of his "friends" on the swim team (notably Sean) and Sam is still freaked out, Jess is the only who hasn't run from him, because he's the Only Friend he ever made. Cody affirms their friendship and resulting in the two tackling each other in a big "merman" hug.
  • Crossed with Tearjerker, Cody's adoptive mother, Sharon, has a hard time letting her son go out to sea to be reunited with his mermaid birth mother. Cody reassures her that he is still her son, making it clear that he regards his adoptive human parents to be every bit as important to him as his biological mother. It's made even sweeter when Cody's birth mother promises them that Cody can still return to the surface and live as a human, confirming she accepts the Griffins as an important part of their shared son's life.
  • Cody and his birth mother share a loving embrace in the ocean and she helps him with fully transforming into a merman, capped off with Cody jumping into the air out of the water with the biggest and happiest smile.
• Narm:
  • This film is pretty infamous for having cheesy dialogue, acting, special effects, and much more. However, this is also a big reason as to why it's so memorable and loved.
  • The ending credits song, on the other hand, is mocked for how bad it is.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Sam's actor Courtnee Draper is better known these days for voicing Elizabeth in the Bioshock franchise.
  • You can briefly see a young Kristen Stewart as one of the kids waiting in line at the water fountain.
  • Hal is played by Joel McKinnon Miller, Scully on Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Tearjerker:
  • Cody's birth mother only intended to leave him on the Griffins' boat for a moment, and when she returns to the spot the boat had been previously, she looks around in confusion before seeing they've already driven up to the shore with her son in tow. She can only sadly look on as her baby son is being adopted into the humans' world and can only hope he'll be safe and cared for, all the while knowing that she'll have to wait thirteen long years before she can see him again.
  • Jess can definitely qualify as The Woobie, given his father is considered to be something of the "town weirdo" who believes in fantastical creatures (albeit, it's a Cassandra Truth), and he's largely a nerdy outcast who one of the resident Jerk Jocks says exists solely to be looked down on. Fortunately, things get better for him when he develops a friendship with Cody.
  • The way Sharon cries and says she doesn't want to lose her son when Cody tells her he has to go out to sea, as his mermaid birth mother is the only one who can help him with his abilities. While Cody reassures her he's still her son, he also points out that there are simply things that Sharon herself can't do for him and she has to let him go do this.

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