Cool Again, When Cool is such an Alien Word (17 Again (DVD))

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	17 Again (DVD)
Date:	27/10/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Humorous and entertaining

Disadvantages: A little cheesy

17 Again wasn't exactly a film that I rushed out to see at the cinema nor one that I rushed out to purchase on DVD but it was one that I added to my 'lovefilm' rental list and was in fact the film that dropped through my front door last week. Having it now in my house and waiting to be watched I dutifully sat down with my mum to give it a go. I wasn't expecting much because let's face it that's not what the film was proposing to offer. I was simply expecting an easy going and light-hearted film and by and large that is exactly what I received.

~~PLOT~~
17 Again tells the story of Mike O'Donnell who upon finding out, just before the basketball game of his life, that his girlfriend was pregnant gives up everything to stand by her. Now in his late 30's things aren't as rosy as they once were. His girlfriend is now his wife and soon to be ex-wife at that, his sales job is going nowhere and his children (he knows has two) both resent the attention he wishes to give them. Visiting his old school he stares at the basketball trophy in the cabinet and wishes that he'd lived his youth differently - wishes that he could do it all again.

Luckily more him he's heard by a man that just might be able to help and after being caught in a torrential storm and subsequently falling off a bridge, trying to help the very same man, Mike finds himself back as a 17 year old pubescent boy - with his whole life to live again. The problems however are many. How should he deal with being in the same school as his children, how does he go about getting onto the basketball team and what on earth is the purpose of being 17 Again if you don't know what to do about it. The journey through puberty that Mike is subsequently about to retake is therefore one that will either make or break him.

~~CAST AND ACTING~~
As Mike O'Donnell 17 Again stars both Matthew Perry and Oak Efron although Perry's part as the 30-something O'Donnell is far shorter than that of Efron's. Both actors however bring something to the character that the other doesn't and in that way make the film enjoyable to watch.

Now I like both Perry and Efron and so may be biased towards the film because of it but I do think that both of them but in great performances. Perry is superb as the somewhat downtrodden O'Donnell and is believable in his role. Efron is similarly fantastic to watch as the pubescent 17-year-old O'Donnell. Somehow he seems to manage to portray somehow who despite looking young, has a mind full of memories and a whole deal of issues to sort out. For this I think he certainly needs to be commended as he pulls it off with ease and a great deal of charisma. To boost his part even more Efron is decidedly good looking, therefore hauling in the female audience.

The remainder of the films cast also put in good performances. The remainder of the main cast, which include O'Donnell's soon to be ex-wife, his two children and his best friend spend roughly the same amount of time on screen as each other, giving the film a much more rounded feeling than it would otherwise have had. I must admit however that the way his best friend reacts to the 'transformation' is a little weird but I suppose what else do you expect from such a film.

~~GENERAL FILM OPINION~~
I must say that I found 17 Again decidedly watchable and to be honest quite enjoyed watching it. Like I have mentioned earlier the film isn't profound in anyway nor even particularly unique but it is entertaining and in reality that's all it ever really aims to be. All the actors involved but in good performances and Efron excels in the role in my opinion.

The storyline is in many ways predictable but there are small things that appear out of the blue and make the feel a real pleasure to watch. Ultimately however this film is simply one for a quite night in (and a quite night in with the girls at that). It isn't a film you're going to remember for ever or even for a particularly long time but it is one that will keep you entertained whilst you watch it and provide you enough of a plot to keep your mind working slightly for it's duration.

If you like you're movies to provide more than relaxation and 90 minutes entertainment however then 17 Again is probably not for you but if this sort of film is up your street then you should certainly give it a shot.

Summary: An easy to watch film