17 Again (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
Remember Big, Freaky Friday, or Back to the Future? Then you can figure out the gist of '17 Again', directed by Burr Steers. We start in 1989: at age 17, Mike O' Donnell (Zac Efron) is big man on high school campus, star of the basketball team, a shoo-in got a college scholarship, & is dating a hot blonde named Scarlett. But on the evening of the big game of his life (with talent scouts in the crowd), she reveals to Mike that she's pregnant! Mike leaves the important game, asks Scarlett to marry him, & declares that spending his life with her & the baby is the only future he desires. Fast forward to 2007; where during their marriage, Mike (Matthew Perry) complains about the life he 'could' have had 18 yrs. ago. Scarlett (Leslie Mann) throws him out, wants a divorce, & his 2 teen kids, Alex & Maggie (Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg), are not his biggest fans, either. His only ally is his nerdy, but rich lifelong pal, Ned (Thomas Lennon).
Regretful, Mike returns back to the halls of his high school, where a mysterious janitor offers him the opportunity to be 17 again. Mike agrees to a re-do. And shortly thereafter, transforms into his 17 yr. old self. Ahh, what a chance to reclaim his adolescent freedom (without Scarlett or any burden in tow). Of course, this means that he has to acclimate himself to today's standards of teenhood (with ensuing comedic situations). His lingo, attitude, clothes ... what once was cool in 1989 is now severely dated. But just when he thought he could get back the life he lost, he meets up with his current day wife & kids. Scarlett (Mann) can't get over how much "Mark" (Mike) resembles her husband from when he was 17 {duh}. And his kids think "Mark" is a really cool guy. Re-discovering how much he loves them, Mike decides that if he wasn't the best of dads or the best husband at age 35, maybe he can reverse that & change things for the better at age 17.
17 Again' is another body swap film (where someone's mind goes into another body or younger body); there's been tons of them. I'm always curious how they will play out. Unfortunately, this one doesn't really offer anything new. And in fact, the narrative really starts to deflate in the final 10-15 minutes. It ends tidily, but it could have taken some chances ... and it doesn't. Another way the story is a bit of a stretch is in the way the 35 yr. old characters don't seem to recognize Mike in his 17 yr. old body. They should be able to put two & two together, but I digress.
Much like my friend Kevin just wrote in his review of The Great Buck Howard - '17 Again' is pleasant. Harmless, even. The plot is straightforward. There are few surprises. The acting is fine (more than fine, in some instances). I laughed. I cringed. And overall, it's just a tad better than I expected it to be. The movie contains some themes (not that movies have to have one): 1) refrain from teen sex. This is addressed in a subplot involving 17 yr. old Mike & his daughter. Her rotten boyfriend is pressuring her to go all the way; and like Back to the Future, you see that she starts having feelings for her dad. Another theme is: realizing what's been lost with time; and not taking the one's you love for granted. But the overall execution of this theme is rushed; to get to the next plot point.
Zac Efron has some screen power. Is he the 2nd coming of Leo DiCaprio? No. But the girls love him, their mothers would approve, & he puts in a nice performance. Leslie Mann is a delight to watch as 35 yr. old Scarlett. I liked any scene with her in it. Matthew Perry is in this film for only 15 minutes or so, but his recognizability is an asset. Michelle Trachtenberg & Sterling Knight are great as Mike's children; they just nail how teens really are today. And my favorite aspect of the film is the endearing subplot btwn. Mike's friend Ned & the high school principal (Melora Hardin). They both discover a mutual love for 'The Lord of the Rings'. And I was just laughing my butt off at their every Elvish encounter. As mentioned, the lame ending brings down my overall feel for the film. But in general, '17 Again' is agreeable entertainment for several demographics out there. And with exception to a few cliches, it's more watchable than I expected it to be.
Regretful, Mike returns back to the halls of his high school, where a mysterious janitor offers him the opportunity to be 17 again. Mike agrees to a re-do. And shortly thereafter, transforms into his 17 yr. old self. Ahh, what a chance to reclaim his adolescent freedom (without Scarlett or any burden in tow). Of course, this means that he has to acclimate himself to today's standards of teenhood (with ensuing comedic situations). His lingo, attitude, clothes ... what once was cool in 1989 is now severely dated. But just when he thought he could get back the life he lost, he meets up with his current day wife & kids. Scarlett (Mann) can't get over how much "Mark" (Mike) resembles her husband from when he was 17 {duh}. And his kids think "Mark" is a really cool guy. Re-discovering how much he loves them, Mike decides that if he wasn't the best of dads or the best husband at age 35, maybe he can reverse that & change things for the better at age 17.
17 Again' is another body swap film (where someone's mind goes into another body or younger body); there's been tons of them. I'm always curious how they will play out. Unfortunately, this one doesn't really offer anything new. And in fact, the narrative really starts to deflate in the final 10-15 minutes. It ends tidily, but it could have taken some chances ... and it doesn't. Another way the story is a bit of a stretch is in the way the 35 yr. old characters don't seem to recognize Mike in his 17 yr. old body. They should be able to put two & two together, but I digress.
Much like my friend Kevin just wrote in his review of The Great Buck Howard - '17 Again' is pleasant. Harmless, even. The plot is straightforward. There are few surprises. The acting is fine (more than fine, in some instances). I laughed. I cringed. And overall, it's just a tad better than I expected it to be. The movie contains some themes (not that movies have to have one): 1) refrain from teen sex. This is addressed in a subplot involving 17 yr. old Mike & his daughter. Her rotten boyfriend is pressuring her to go all the way; and like Back to the Future, you see that she starts having feelings for her dad. Another theme is: realizing what's been lost with time; and not taking the one's you love for granted. But the overall execution of this theme is rushed; to get to the next plot point.
Zac Efron has some screen power. Is he the 2nd coming of Leo DiCaprio? No. But the girls love him, their mothers would approve, & he puts in a nice performance. Leslie Mann is a delight to watch as 35 yr. old Scarlett. I liked any scene with her in it. Matthew Perry is in this film for only 15 minutes or so, but his recognizability is an asset. Michelle Trachtenberg & Sterling Knight are great as Mike's children; they just nail how teens really are today. And my favorite aspect of the film is the endearing subplot btwn. Mike's friend Ned & the high school principal (Melora Hardin). They both discover a mutual love for 'The Lord of the Rings'. And I was just laughing my butt off at their every Elvish encounter. As mentioned, the lame ending brings down my overall feel for the film. But in general, '17 Again' is agreeable entertainment for several demographics out there. And with exception to a few cliches, it's more watchable than I expected it to be.