A Film Review By Paul Perkins

Didn't We See This Before

What if you could relive your past one more time what would you change in your life would you do the same things you did or try something new?  That the question they ask in the new teen comedy called 17 Again. My answer would be I would went to the doctor who found out my stomach problems it would have save me a couple of surgeries and a ton of doctor visits.

In 17 Again Popular high school senior Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) seemingly has it all. He is a star athlete headed straight for a college scholarship when he decides to give it up to settle down with his high school girlfriend Scarlet.

Twenty five years later, an adult Mike (played by Matthew Perry) finds his life is not exactly what he expected. He is separated from his wife, Scarlett (Leslie Mann) and living with his best friend Ned Freedman (Thomas Lennon), his career at a pharmaceutical company is at a stand still, and his relationships with his teenage children are nonexistent. After getting passed up for yet another promotion at work, he returns to his high school to reminisce over his basketball awards and the life he could have had. While he is reliving his past, he is approached by a janitor and shares with him how things were so much better when he was 17.

As Mike is driving home from the high school, he sees the mysterious janitor standing on the ledge preparing to jump into the Los Angeles River. Mike rushes out of his car to rescue him, but when he gets there, the janitor has vanished. What Mike doesn't realize is that he is about to fall into the river and turn into his 17 year old self.

The main problem with the film is that they don't even look a little a like all and can't anyone tell the it the same person with all his kid pictures they have hanging up in there house. The other problems I have seen this type of film a million times before I wish Hollywood would makes original types of film not one that been recycle over and over again.

The acting was ok Zac Efron was ok in this role I would like to see him in 20 years and see if he is still acting or was he just a one hit wonder with all the High School Musicals films. The rest of the cast was ok nothing great if I had to choose who was the best in the film is was the Ned Freedman (Thomas Lennon) he has some of the funniest scenes in the film and was the only thing good about the film.

This is a film that mostly teenage girls will go to see and will like and it worth matter what I think about it they will like it because it has Zac Efron. The film is short which is good because if it was over 2 hrs this would have been a nightmare. If you are look for a good body swap movie check out Vice Versa, Freaky Friday and there has been many better ones then 17 Again