Mike O'Donnell (Perry/Efron) was a brilliant basket ball player in high school, who had a wonderful career in front of him as a professional player. But as destiny has a habit of messing with things, his girlfriend Scarlett (young Allison Miller / adult Leslie Mann) informs him they have fooled around with unsafe sex and that she's pregnant. Mike gives up his own dreams and marries the girl and raises a family.
At the age of 37 Mike is frustrated, depressed man whose family life is getting ruined because of his constant self pity. Scarlett wants a divorce and Mike is forced to move to live with his best friend Ned (Thomas Lennon) - a software developer, rich guy and a grown up fanboy living in a house full of memorabilia from Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
When Mike does not get the promotion at work that he was so waiting for, he thinks everything is over. He goes to his old school (where his own kids now go to school) and sees his glory in the 20 years old photograph. Suddenly an old janitor (Brian Doyle-Murray) asks him if he would want to be young again. Mike says yes, of course, and suddenly he's turned into his 17-year-old self - but current time, not by going back in time.
A lightsaber duel is needed for his friend Ned to believe who he really is, and agrees to pretend to be his father when he goes attending the school again. In school Mike becomes friends with his own son and discovers the lives of his children are not as good as one might think, and starts helping them out.
Adult Scarlett is amazed by how his son's new friend looks so much like her old husband, and feels strangely attracted to the young boy. As does the boy towards Scarlett.
Does Mike manage to fix his children's lives? Does he stay 17 forever? Does he become a big basket ball hero? Does Scarlett get her divorce? - See for yourself!
Much of the movie's appeal rests on Efron's young shoulders: without his charisma and very unique "presence" the movie would be much duller. But he makes the movie an enjoyment. 17 again is very harmless Hollywood comedy that does not really bring anything new to the genre, but it is very well done, the story works and the actors are really good. Well, imagining cute Efron becoming a boring looking Perry is not that fun, and I don't understand why on earth Perry was cast as adult Mike.
The supporting cast, especially Lennon as Mike's weird friend Ned and his love interest, the school's principal Jane Masterson (Melora Hardin) make some extremely fun scenes, for example during their first dinner together. Recommended to fanboys and -girls ;-)
If you want to see a well made, but totally harmless feel good movie, 17 again is a good option. It gives a few laughs, but performs it's humour in a thoughtful manner. Some overacting is of course visible, but not so much it would ruin the entertainment. And the story has a warm heart.
Directed by Burr Steers
Written by Jason Filardi
Written by Jason Filardi
Cast Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight, Melora Hardin
5 comments:
Iik, tämä pitäisi oikeastaan nähdä, vaikka teinityttären kanssa!
:) Uskoisin että juuri sen teinityttären kanssa kannattaakin mennä katsomaan :) Tämä on kuitenkin pääasiassa nuorille (tai sellaisille jotka ovat nuoria vielä sisäpuolelta ;-) suunnattu.
Tän katson vaikka itsekseni jos ei muista seuraksi ole. Pidän Efronista oikeasti ;O)
I'm really wanting to see this one!
Hello Alice :)
If you like "harmless" feel good movies, this certainly is worth seeing.
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