Movie Reviews
17 Again Posted by Harriet Legg 18 March, 2009 - 2:52 PM
Starring; Zac Effron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann and Thomas LennonIf you could have a second shot at your youth, would you do things differently? That’s the question posed in 17 Again – the new romantic comedy starring Zac Effron & Matthew Perry.
Both Efron & Perry play Mike O’Donnell at different stages in his life – Perry is the defeated 30-something, soon-to-be divorced father and Efron the seventeen year-old high school sports star with the world at his feet until he decides to give up his chance at a college scholarship to be with his pregnant sweetheart.
Cue "older" Mike in the present day, lamenting on what could have been if he'd chosen college over a wife & babies, and wishing he could return to his glory days as a teenager. In a moment of desperation Mike returns to his old high school where he meets a janitor who eventually leads him to a magical transformation back to his teenage self.
As seventeen-again Mike strikes up friendships with his own kids – now classmates – and his estranged wife, he begins to wonder whether he actually made the right choices all along.
The underlying themes and an iconic standing-on-a-bridge-in-the-rain scene are borrowed directly from the Jimmy Stewart classic It's a Wonderful Life, and we've seen some of the ensuing comical moments before in other body swapping / time travelling flicks, but the performances are fresh and heartfelt, the script is fast and clever, and the cultural references give this movie a contemporary edge.
17 Again is a charming, fun and enjoyable movie. Whilst it's a given that teens will love it anyway (one word: Zac), older audiences will also appreciate it for its cute storyline and likable characters.
For High School Musical star Efron, the basketball is back and so is the dancing (well a bit anyway), but he extends his performance beyond these familiar devices and does a good job in his break-out role post HSM.
I was surprised I was even able to hear the dialogue at times - the mass of screaming girls at the premiere did their bit to deafen each and every dog in Australia; their mass hysteria at seeing Zac Efron in the flesh reminiscent of the nothing less than the Beatles' Australian visit in the sixties.
Whether this movie is a box office smash or crash, Zac Efron is undoubtedly the heart-throb for the new generation and is poised to take over the throne of Hollywood's hottest man. After all, Brad Pitt's never going to be 17 again.
Three and a half out of Five Stars
Leave your comment
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Kate says
This looks funny I can't wait to see this.
Posted Friday 20 March, 2009 6:54 AM -
Rachel says
Zac Efron!! Man I could watch him all day.
Posted Friday 20 March, 2009 6:55 AM -
danita says
haha this movie looks really good
Posted Saturday 21 March, 2009 2:31 PM
i wonder what it would be like if my parents did that and they became my friends. freaky but cool. -
Alexandra says
this movie looks absolutely hilarious.....cant wait to see it :)
Posted Saturday 21 March, 2009 8:19 PM
and i cant wait to see zac efron in another movie (drooollll) love him :P -
- Maaaddy xo says
omgg !! zac efron * sigh *
Posted Sunday 22 March, 2009 12:00 PM
i lovee him !!!
this movie look funny :D -
Nona says
The one reason I really wanna watch this movie is to see weather Michelle Tratchenberg's character falls for the younger version of her father. That would be gross, but I mean, hello, it's Zac Efron (or really hot new kid in school), so how would she not miraculously have a crush on him?
Posted Sunday 22 March, 2009 8:52 PM -
Charlie says
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE!!!!!
Posted Tuesday 24 March, 2009 3:57 PM
went to the premier... u should go see it its rlly good -
taylor says
omgg this looks like a super effing good movie
Posted Thursday 2 April, 2009 12:26 PM
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melissa says
OMG!! i can't believe that zac efron is in this movie! i am so desperate to watch this!! *sigh* i love him...
Posted Saturday 4 April, 2009 7:48 PM -
Anne says
This movie looks pretty good but I think I'll wait for its DVD release as I would like to be able to hear the dialogue hahaha
Posted Tuesday 7 April, 2009 1:32 AM
