17 Again, written by Jason Filardi and directed by Burr Steers stars Zac Efron in this innocent comedy film. The film starts in 1989 during a basketball match at Hayden High School. Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) is 17 years old, and is there to see if he is worthy of a scholarship. His girlfriend, Scarlett, told him she was pregnant just before the game started, and in the middle of the game Mike runs out of the gym to be with her, giving up the chance for a scholarship. The film then ellipses in time, showing Mike as a 37 year old man regretting it all. Mike has been turned down for a promotion at work, and is living with his best friend Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon) after Scarlett evicted him from the house. After a series of coincidental events, Mike transforms back into his 17-year-old self by the mysterious school janitor (Brian Doyle-Murray).
17 Again has better performances then expected, and actually, there is something always boiling beneath the rather shallow screenplay. When Ned has to pretend to be Mike's father in order for Mike to apply for high school, the film fragments into a thoughtful romance, which always returns to comedy with a rather serious tone. 17 Again isn’t a sloppy comedy film designed for the girls to stare at Efron for hours, but uses his persona to dig deeper into life challenges that most of us assume to be futile or even impossible. In this way, Efron uses his role in this film to achieve many of our own personal desires and wishes which can only raise his own prolific profile as a flexible actor.
On paper, the film most certainly has the potential to be a predictable comedy film, but director Burr Steers zooms in on key moments which make the film sentimental and magical. When Mike goes to Scarlett’s house and dances with her in the living room, the scene captures all the qualities of the film: comedy, magic, emotion and beauty, showing just in one scene how thoughtful and creative the film actually is. Whether the audience will view the film for Zac Efron, the story, or the Hollywood dream, you are guaranteed to find your personal desire in there somewhere. What could have been a slushy and conventional film turned out to be imaginative and potent so what are you waiting for? View it before you get too old yourself!
17 Again has better performances then expected, and actually, there is something always boiling beneath the rather shallow screenplay. When Ned has to pretend to be Mike's father in order for Mike to apply for high school, the film fragments into a thoughtful romance, which always returns to comedy with a rather serious tone. 17 Again isn’t a sloppy comedy film designed for the girls to stare at Efron for hours, but uses his persona to dig deeper into life challenges that most of us assume to be futile or even impossible. In this way, Efron uses his role in this film to achieve many of our own personal desires and wishes which can only raise his own prolific profile as a flexible actor.
On paper, the film most certainly has the potential to be a predictable comedy film, but director Burr Steers zooms in on key moments which make the film sentimental and magical. When Mike goes to Scarlett’s house and dances with her in the living room, the scene captures all the qualities of the film: comedy, magic, emotion and beauty, showing just in one scene how thoughtful and creative the film actually is. Whether the audience will view the film for Zac Efron, the story, or the Hollywood dream, you are guaranteed to find your personal desire in there somewhere. What could have been a slushy and conventional film turned out to be imaginative and potent so what are you waiting for? View it before you get too old yourself!
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