There are 4 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #2 by Helium's members.
The scrumptious Zac Efron stars as seventeen year old Mike O'Donnell, a highly popular school basketball star and all time good guy who sticks up for the school nerd, Ned Gold. Mike is on the verge of a college scholarship when his girlfriend Scarlett (Allison Miller) announces she is pregnant. Mike has to choose between his sporting career and marriage to Scarlett, and being very much in love, he chooses marriage.
Twenty years later, the disillusioned and self absorbed adult Mike (Matthew Perry) is on the verge of divorce from his disappointed wife Scarlett (Leslie Mann). He has been regretting the loss of his ambition for twenty years, and has subtly blamed his wife the whole time. Mike moves in with his old pal Ned (Thomas Lennon). Ned is more nerdy than ever, has a houseful of fantasy movie collectibles and is prone to wearing pointy ears.
Mike attempts to remain on good terms with his teenage daughter Maggie (Michell Trachtenberg) and son Alex (Sterling Knight) but just fails to understand what's going on in their lives. However, after trying to save a mysterious school janitor from a fall, Mike is sucked into a mystical vortex and miraculously transformed into a 17 year old again. It's a chance for him to relive his youth and maybe do all the things he missed out on first time around. With Ned posing as his father he enrolls at his children's school and finds himself getting to know them in a different way. He's shocked to find his son is being bullied, and his flirtatious daughter is not quite the little girl he thinks.
He makes friends with his son, and through him gets to visit the house and see his wife, who not surprisingly thinks he bears a remarkable resemblance to her husband as a younger man. She is drawn to him, and Mike soon begins to realize that he wants to win back his wife and children and get his old life back. But he doesn't know how.
It's a fun scenario on a theme that's been done before in films such as Big and Freaky Friday, and this one doesn't fall down in the entertainment stakes. Hairspray and High School Musical star Zac Efron is a great choice for this, and it seems as if some scenes are particularly written around him, such as where he joins in a dance with the cheerleaders or shows off his basketball skills. He's sexy, charming, with big dreamy eyes and a smile to melt hearts, all of which compensates for a fairly hit and miss performance.
Bear in mind that for most of the film Zac Efron is supposed to be a man in his thirties stuck
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by Jay Bamber
Mike O'Donnell's life has not turned out as he planned; he is going no-where in his job, is in the midst of a heart-breaking
by A. Marshall
The scrumptious Zac Efron stars as seventeen year old Mike O'Donnell, a highly popular school basketball star and all time
by Movie Pulse
On the surface, Mike O'Donnell is a lot like Troy Bolton, another Zac Efron character (from High School Musical 3). Both
Watching 17 Again is similar to eating comfort food. You know it has absolutely zero nutritional value but you like it anyway.
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