Movie Review - 17 Again

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Zac Efron looks to prove he’s more than a teen heart throb with his latest outing 17 Again.  Both Efron and Matthew Perry play Mike O’Donnell.  As the movie opens we see O’Donnell in 1989.  He’s the star of the high school basketball team and getting ready to take the court for the “big game” when his girl friend informs him that she’s pregnant.  He immediately abandons basketball (and I mean immediately).  He walks off the court, marries his girlfriend and raises a family with her.

Fast forward twenty years.  O’Donnell, now played by Perry, is miserable.  He’s trapped in a dead-end job, haunted by what-might-have-beens and going through a divorce.  While visiting his kids at their high school (the same one he attended), he encounters a magical janitor who makes him 17 again.  I could explain that in more detail, but why bother.  This is another in a long line of age reversal movies.  Does it really matter?  Just get to the age reversal already. 

After discovering that he’s 17, he does what anyone would do: he returns to high school in an effort to guide his kids on the right path.  As is typical with these things, most of the humor is derived from the 20/20 hindsight that only life can grant. 

The plot of 17 Again is far from original.  I can think of six movies off the top of my head that have the same (or similar) premise.  And coming off of last week’s Hannah Montana: The Movie, my expectations were remarkably low for a movie like this.  However, it was actually, surprisingly kind of charming. 

When recycling a high-concept premise for the umpteenth time, casting is of the utmost importance.  17 Again is saved by undoubtedly smart casting choices.  Leslie Mann (Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin) plays Scarlett, O’Donnell’s wife.  Thomas Lennon (The State, Reno 911) is Ned, O’Donnell’s best-friend both during and after high school.  He’s a dork of the highest order and is recruited to impersonate O’Donnell’s father in order to enroll him in school.  Melora Hardin (probably best known as Jan on The Office) plays the principal.  Matthew Perry, unfortunately, isn’t given much comedic work to do since he’s cast as the present-day “mopey” version of Mike O’Donnell.  But here, typecasting works in his favor as he brings enormous good will from his Friends’ days, even if he isn’t given much to do. 

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the film is Zac Efron.  I’ve seen none of the High School Musical franchise.  So, with the exception of last week’s Saturday Night Live, I’ve never actually seen him in anything.  Imagine my shock upon discovering that he can actually carry a movie.  He’s in practically every scene and surprisingly, that’s not a complaint.  He’s asked to say a lot of “fatherly” things and he manages to convey those things in ways that are serious, amusing, believable and in character.  He can get a laugh (even out of a so-so line) without mugging for the camera.  He can even make us believe that he loves a woman pushing forty.  True, that woman is Leslie Mann.  So, it’s not exactly like he’s being asked to play King Lear. 

17 Again is a harmless, if derivative piece of Hollywood fluff.  Nothing groundbreaking, but if forced to choose between this and Hannah Montana, there’s no contest.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being Big and 1 being Like Father Like Son, 17 Again gets a 6.

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