Lyzsi SinclairMovie Review - "17 Again"...
“17 Again” is the 2009 film that came out on DVD last August. Main cast include Zac Efron (“High School Musical”), Matthew Perry (“Friends”), Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up”), and Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911!”); and was written by Jason Filardi and directed by Burr Steers (director of “Igby Goes Down”).
Mike O’Connell (Matthew Perry) is nearly forty – and really disappointed with his life. After losing out on a basketball scholarship at seventeen when his girlfriend Scarlet became pregnant; he stands by her, marries her, and finds his life going in a totally different direction. It’s been twenty years since then and he blames everyone but himself for his losses and unsatisfying life and job. With his wife Scarlet (Leslie Mann) now divorcing him, and his children hating his guts, he goes to his old school to revisit his youth and admire past trophies. However, revisiting his youth soon becomes a reality after a bit of “Freaky Friday” style voodoo by a mysterious janitor turns him back into his seventeen year old self (Zac Efron) – giving him a chance to do things over. Will he finally get the life he dreamed of; or is this a change for something more than that…?
“17 Again”, as I mentioned in the synopsis, is effectively a “Freaky Friday” style story – but instead of two people switching bodies, it’s just one person made younger…and that’s where the film first stumbles. As far as choices of actors go, Matthew Perry and Zac Efron are not two individual men that I could place in my mind as one person. Considering this is the main foundation of the film, one would think the director would have chosen a little better. They are both decent actors (although I have to admit, Efron grates on me a little), but their performances in this are just not strong enough. Something which is not helped by a plot that is not only extremely fragmented, but also aiming to do far too much with far too little set-up.
Watching this film, don’t expect to see a whole lot of Matthew Perry. It’s almost as if the plot and director expect you to believe that in twenty years – his character and personality remain exactly the same. One of the things that I find works best with a “Freaky Friday” format is a big set-up leading to big laughs when things change. With nothing ‘apparently’ changing, there are barely any laughs - in fact quite the opposite. The amount of times the story got uncomfortable or made me yell “awkward” at the screen, made this film a cringe-fest, (and not in the good “Jackass” way). One part with Efron (playing younger Mike in present day) talking, behaving, flirting and even dancing
inappropriately with the woman who is actually his wife (Leslie Mann); and with her unaware that it was her husband – instead thinking it was her son’s friend – left me feeling so embarrassed, it’s hard to believe. I'm guessing it was perhaps meant to be romantic, but it was just plain wrong.
As I said before, this is a plot device that should open a film up to laughs and hilarious misunderstandings. The fact that the funniest character was Ned Gold (Mike’s best friend) played by Thomas Lennon – who was a secondary character – shows just how much this film lacked that. In fact Melora Hardin (“Monk”) who played the principal had more presence than either Perry or Efron. Leslie Mann was average, but forgettable; Michelle Trachtenberg (“Ice Princess”) was barely on-screen, (a great shame in my eyes) and so goes by unnoticed; and Sterling Knight who played Mike’s son Alex was decent for the screen-time he got – but again, just not memorable. The plot is the main thing that let all the actors down I think, providing this result: too rushed, too much – too bad.
It overall is a weak and extremely predictable film. I would personally say it’s definitely the kind of film that requires no effort at all to watch, and that’s not the kind of film I myself particularly enjoy. You can put it on, fade in and out of it, and still get the jist - without missing anything at all really. I guess it is mildly entertaining – but the embarrassment factor kills any enjoyment had. I give “17 Again” a pretty pathetic 5/10. Flix Out.
Mike O’Connell (Matthew Perry) is nearly forty – and really disappointed with his life. After losing out on a basketball scholarship at seventeen when his girlfriend Scarlet became pregnant; he stands by her, marries her, and finds his life going in a totally different direction. It’s been twenty years since then and he blames everyone but himself for his losses and unsatisfying life and job. With his wife Scarlet (Leslie Mann) now divorcing him, and his children hating his guts, he goes to his old school to revisit his youth and admire past trophies. However, revisiting his youth soon becomes a reality after a bit of “Freaky Friday” style voodoo by a mysterious janitor turns him back into his seventeen year old self (Zac Efron) – giving him a chance to do things over. Will he finally get the life he dreamed of; or is this a change for something more than that…?
Mike is "17 Again"...but will he finally get what he wants in life?
“17 Again”, as I mentioned in the synopsis, is effectively a “Freaky Friday” style story – but instead of two people switching bodies, it’s just one person made younger…and that’s where the film first stumbles. As far as choices of actors go, Matthew Perry and Zac Efron are not two individual men that I could place in my mind as one person. Considering this is the main foundation of the film, one would think the director would have chosen a little better. They are both decent actors (although I have to admit, Efron grates on me a little), but their performances in this are just not strong enough. Something which is not helped by a plot that is not only extremely fragmented, but also aiming to do far too much with far too little set-up.
Watching this film, don’t expect to see a whole lot of Matthew Perry. It’s almost as if the plot and director expect you to believe that in twenty years – his character and personality remain exactly the same. One of the things that I find works best with a “Freaky Friday” format is a big set-up leading to big laughs when things change. With nothing ‘apparently’ changing, there are barely any laughs - in fact quite the opposite. The amount of times the story got uncomfortable or made me yell “awkward” at the screen, made this film a cringe-fest, (and not in the good “Jackass” way). One part with Efron (playing younger Mike in present day) talking, behaving, flirting and even dancing
As I said before, this is a plot device that should open a film up to laughs and hilarious misunderstandings. The fact that the funniest character was Ned Gold (Mike’s best friend) played by Thomas Lennon – who was a secondary character – shows just how much this film lacked that. In fact Melora Hardin (“Monk”) who played the principal had more presence than either Perry or Efron. Leslie Mann was average, but forgettable; Michelle Trachtenberg (“Ice Princess”) was barely on-screen, (a great shame in my eyes) and so goes by unnoticed; and Sterling Knight who played Mike’s son Alex was decent for the screen-time he got – but again, just not memorable. The plot is the main thing that let all the actors down I think, providing this result: too rushed, too much – too bad.
Thomas Lennon (R) played Mike's best friend and "dad
It overall is a weak and extremely predictable film. I would personally say it’s definitely the kind of film that requires no effort at all to watch, and that’s not the kind of film I myself particularly enjoy. You can put it on, fade in and out of it, and still get the jist - without missing anything at all really. I guess it is mildly entertaining – but the embarrassment factor kills any enjoyment had. I give “17 Again” a pretty pathetic 5/10. Flix Out.
