Being 17 Again
The story of 17 Again is about Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) whose life is going through a rough patch; his wife is seeking a divorce, his children are far away and he was looking forward for a promotion, which never came his way. His life is full of troubles since the magical age of 17 when he was basketball hero and looked quite similar to Zac Efron.
Mike meets a janitor when he visits the trophy case in his high school. This janitor foresees the troubles and sufferings of Mike while he is smiling at the camera. And Mike drifts into in a hallucinatory state and comes out as Zac Efron! Mike is asked to be cautious while he makes a wish as it could be fulfilled. But this had to happen, Mike wishes to be 17 again. He has a body of 17-yr old but his wife, children and all the problems don’t seem to change.
During the divorce process with his wife Mike had shifted with his close friend Ned (Thomas Lennon) and he desperately needs Ned’s help get him out of this crisis. Will Ned accept the role of Mike’s father and help him get his children admitted in his school? For Mike’s luck Ned goes bonkers over the high-school principal Jane (Melora Hardin) and he agrees to help out his friend from the mess.
At school Mike becomes the best pal of his son Alex (Sterling Knight) and meets his then wife Scarlet (Leslie Mann) who was actually his high-school bride. Scarlet is quite surprised that her son’s new friend looks very similar to young Mike but he says that he is the son of Mike’s uncle. At school Mike regains his stardom as a basketball player, is a close buddy of his son and tries to guard his daughter Maggie (Mitchelle Trachtenberg) from her boyfriend.
Mike loves his wife a lot and Scarlet is in love with her son’s friend who reminds her of Mike but she thinks it is mistake. Young Mike is aware of this fact but he cannot tell her the truth.
And in the meanwhile Ned has his new girlfriend- the high school principal who teaches him what love is. Their first outing is a true depiction of great comic timing brilliantly performed by Thomas Lennon and Melora Hardin.
The teenage girls will go mad for Zac Efron. Zac has charming persona that is very similar to Tom Hanks and he also brims with a lot of confidence. Though it is hard to understand why Matthew Perry was cast as the older Mike after all your head does not transit in the matter of 20 years.
17 Again is a cool movie, which is ideal for teenage viewers. The plot of the film and acting skills are far better than anybody’s expectations. The movie is definitely a good entertainer. And you can leave the hall with a pleasant smile similar to that of the janitor.
The film is rated as PG-13 for explicit sexual content.
Film: 17 Again
Cast: Zac Efron as Mike O’Donnell, Leslie Mann as Scarlet, Thomas Lennon as Ned Gold, Michelle Trachtenberg as Maggie, Sterling Knight as Alex, Melora Hardin as Principal Jane Masterson, Matthew Perry as Adult Mike O’Donnell, Allison Miller as Teen Scarlet, Hunter Parrish as Stan
Directed by: Burr Steers
Written by: Jason Filardi
Run time: 1 hour and 38 minutes
Rating: 3/5
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Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm