Friday, April 17, 2009
Quick-take movie review: 17 Again
Flavor-of-the-month Zac Efron headlines 17 Again, another reworking of Big, Vice Versa and Like Father, Like Son scenarios in which our hero gets a second chance at life's do-overs.
Efron, best known for the High School Musical series, actually holds his own as hot-shot basketball player Mike O'Donnell and is good eye candy for the tweens.
Bookending the movie is former Friends star Matthew Perry, the adult version of Mike, whose wife, Scarlett, played by Leslie Man (Knocked Up) wants a divorce due to irreconcilable differences. Fate offers him a second chance.
Adding to the comedy riff-raff is Thomas Lennon as Ned Gold, Mike's best friend and confidant, who has the Star Wars land-speeder as a bed. Like his bit part in I Love You, Man, he steals the show in certain spots.
Of course, there is the obligatory dance number, with Efron strutting his stuff, preceding a major basketball game.
Director Burr Steers, who did a commendable job with the black comedy stylings of Igby Goes Down, knows how to find the right balance of comedy with a light touch of drama.
Grade: C+
Guest reviewer Ricky Miller styles himself the Movie Guru
