Watching 17 Again is similar to eating comfort food. You know it has absolutely zero nutritional value but you like it anyway. It helps when the twinkie in the middle is Zac Efron. 17 Again celebrates the actor's coming of age from a singing and dancing matinee idol to a full-blown movie star.

Efron leaves the High School Musical franchise just to return to high school in 17 Again. A fun movie that unabashedly borrowed plot points from films such as Big, It's a Wonderful Life, and Back to the Future.

You know the familiar premise by now, an unsuccessful man wishes he is young again so he can correct his mistakes. A magical character grants his wish, and everyone lives happily ever after.

In 17 Again, the man on the brink of depression is Mike O'Donnell (played as an adult by Matthew Perry), a husband and father who has just been dumped by his entire family. He's in the middle of a divorce from his wife Scarlet (the talented Leslie Mann), his kids think he's a loser, and he has been passed over for a promotion at work.

When picking up his kids one day, Mike goes back to his old high school and reflects on his glory days. We learn that back then, Mike was a jock with an exciting college scholarship, and dating the most beautiful girl in school.

So Mike wishes he's 17 again, and yes, there's a magical character who happens to be listening nearby. This time, he's in the form of a school janitor. That evening, Mike sees the janitor on the verge of jumping into the river.

He tries to save the poor maintenance worker to no avail. Mike goes home, all wet and muddied from jumping into the river and looks at himself in the mirror. To his surprise, he's 17 again, and looks a lot like Zac Efron!

I knew what to expect coming into this film. But I had a hard time getting into the atmosphere of the movie. Perhaps it was all too familiar, that I refuse to let it all soak in. But as soon as Perry becomes Efron, the magic begins.

Big credit goes to the supporting actors especially Thomas Lennon (Reno 911) who plays Mike's best friend, the nerd-turned-techno-billionaire Ned. Lennon and Efron spend most of the film together, so the movie depends on their on-screen chemistry.

Lennon is given enough chances to shine in the film. Some of his memorable moments are his courtship of Mike's high school principal (J.R.R. Tolkien's elvish lingo plays a big part in this subplot) and Ned's lightsaber duel with Mike. Wait until you see Ned's bed, and his house for that matter.

Another supporting character I admire is Mann. Her performance as Mike's long-neglected wife is the heart of the film. And yes, there's even a creepy but sweet cougar moment, when Efron kisses Mann.

The one big letdown of the film is the director, Burr Steers. I expected more from the guy who gave us the incredibly smart 2002 film Igby Goes Down. But Steers is forgiven for his casting choices.

I've never been a big fan of Efron. Besides his memorable turn in Hairspray, the whole High School Musical hoopla escapes me. So I was genuinely surprised to see Efron can actually act! He can go from comedy to drama without missing a beat! Witness his scene in the school cafeteria where he humiliates a bully just by using mere words.

So I'm recommending 17 Again for its sweet-natured, albeit sugar-coated premise. There's nothing wrong in feeling young again even just for a couple of hours.

And for that, 17 Again gets 2 think young and beautiful kisses

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