The Fresh Films Review: 17 Again (2009)

17 Again (2009)

Directed by:
Burr Steers

COUNTRY
USA

GENRE
Comedy

NORWEGIAN TITLE
17 Again

RUNNING TIME
102 minutes

Produced by:
Adam Shankman
Jennifer Gibgot

Written by:
Jason Filardi
Keenan Donahue

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Mike O'Donnell (17 years old)	Zac Efron	½
Scarlet O'Donnell (37 years old)	Leslie Mann	½
Ned Gold (37 years old)	Thomas Lennon	½
Maggie O'Donnell	Michelle Trachtenberg
Mike O'Donnell (37 years old)	Matthew Perry	½
Alex O'Donnell	Sterling Knight	½

Review

There are thirteen per dozen of the films in this mould, but 17 Again turns out to be quite alright, despite Zac Efron's giddy persona and the customary use of stock characters. Matthew Perry has turned out as the boring 37-year-old version of Zac Efron's 1989 high school hot shot. When his wife leaves him and he has estranged his children, he gets help from a spirit (or a fairy or whatever) to become 17 again. Enter Zac Efron (again), as a perplexed grown-up in a teenage body. We're going back to high school for a series of complications and the ever-present search for purpose, and as it goes along, 17 Again is able to get quite a bit of truthfulness and amusement across, largely thanks to the wonderful Thomas Lennon (as Efron/Perry's pal/uncle/father), who easily steals every frame he's in. Efron is fine too, especially when he is given other tasks than being a cool high-school champ, and there are some interesting segments between him and the beautiful Leslie Mann. Burr Steers directs with childlike inspiration. Watch out for fun high school pics of the actors during the end credits.