For anyone who has ever thought: "If I could go back to high school knowing what I know now!!!", there is "17 Again". Zac Efron stars as Mike O'Donnell, a hot-shot basketball star at his high school who finds through the years that the further you get from high school, the more that glory eludes you. As a 37-year old (in the form of Matthew Perry), he finds himself disappointed with his life and about to lose his family when his wife (Leslie Mann) files for divorce. Feeling like his young potential has gotten away from him, a mysterious stranger (Brian Doyle-Murray) asks him if he wishes he could get another chance. When that wish is granted, Mike finds himself 17 again and returns to the school he ruled 20 years earlier. Of course, he now has to deal with the fact that he is in school with his son (Sterling Knight) and daughter (Michelle Trachtenberg). He finds his son has trouble fitting in and is often the target of bullies and his daughter is dating the biggest bully of them all. What looked like a second chance to fix his own life has turned into an opportunity to get his kids on the right path. The movie is a good story of how "making things right" isn't always what you think it is. Zac Efron does a surprisingly great job as he really has to carry this film to make it work and carry it, he does. He is funny, sweet and out of place all at the same time and he really gets to show he is more than High School Musical's teen idol here. He shows he can actually act and carry a movie. The supporting cast is all very good and Efron's performance is matched by a very funny turn by Thomas Lennon, who plays O'Donnell's nerdy best friend who is forced to pose as his father. Sure, I was "dragged" to this movie by my Zac-loving daughter, but found that I really enjoyed it. Grade: B
Trailer:
No comments:
Post a Comment