Movie Box Office Results

17 Again

If you had the chance to live your life again, what would you do? In this movie, the main character gets to be 17 again in the modern world. But he finds he needs to help his children at school and finally work things out with his wife his real life.

Very good fun.

While not reinventing the wheel, it was still surprisingly good.
At 17, Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) is at the top of the world and at the top of his game. As a truly talented b-baller, his chance at the big shots is de-railed for his love of his high school sweetheart Scarlett (Allison Miller), who is pregnant. He leaves the future fame and success for a wife, family and a life, as an adult at 37, adult Mike ((Matthew Perry) has learned to harbor regret and cultivate resent. Aimless, full of bitterness and blaming his wife (Leslie Mann) for the missed opportunity and woefully disconnected from his two teen-aged children Maggie (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Alex (Sterling Knight). While visiting Hayden High School to reminisce, an encounter with a mysterious white-bearded janitor (Brian Doyle Murray), becomes a trip down memory lane, but in the present.

Now, old Mike has transformed back to the Mike at his high school prime--17 again, and feeling as though this is a chance for him to relive his lost hopes and dreams, at least that's what he thinks. With his BFF Ned Gold (a funny but ridiculous and over the top performance by Thomas Lennon), who helps him enroll into high school as his illegitimate son 'Mike Gold' (while wooing the school's principal Jane Masterson [Melora Hardin], which is a funny sub-plot), Mike is only seeing the silver lining. But as he sees his family through a glass darkly, he slowly begins to realize the very things he's been blinded to is exactly what's important in his life--his wife and his children...

Okay, so I completely writ off Zac Efron as a Disney by-product with cuteness in spades but zero talent--like I did Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember. Sometimes eating your own words is a good thing, like here. Also, Michelle Trachtenberg was still the annoying kid sister to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I sort just rolled my eyes as well as to the predictable, melodramatic and formulaic premise I've seen so often, I could predict every line and every scene. While I did predict every line, scene and life-lesson 'ahh' moments, what was surprising were several unexpected elements. For one, seeing Matthew Perry, who I haven't really seen in anything I've cared for since Friends (though he's hardly in the movie but enough to give an impression) and Leslie Mann, who's known for the more raunchy and gross humor sort of movies, both delivered as a couple that married young and sort of lost sight but really didn't want to let go. But it's Efron as young Mike portraying older Mike as his high school self that was shockingly well done, nuanced and rather intelligent play on Efron's part. He has talent, and this movie showcases his dramatic capabilities (though his hair still scares me) and his ability to hold his own against seasoned talented actors. Director Burr Steers was able to give this old familiar tale a somewhat fresh take but was by no means taking this type of story to the next level, it was still endearing rather than eye-roll sappy with a cast that just worked together well. Whether that was luck or shrewdness on his part, it didn't try to over-reach and pretend to be more than what it set out to do. There will be more than one scene that will get you smiling and laughing despite yourself.

Is it a sweet, teeth-decay filled movie that you've seen before, and better done? Yes. Will it win over even the most jaded, self-professed opponent of this type of movie (like me)? It could, it really could if you keep an open mind. For sure it's an unexpected rendering of the same old, same old that might just take you by surprise, it sure did me. And I think it'll be a guilty pleasure I won't mind revisiting when I just need a feel good movie that's actually feel good.

Does not work
The movie was scratched up and does not work; I was only offered a refund, when I would have preferred a replacement item

Pleasantly Surprised
The storyline was very well done and enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised at this movie. Keep an open mind and you will enjoy the movie.

17 Again
Funny reminds me of several others with the exception of this being placed in current times.