DVD Review #18 17 Again

17 Again (2009) Zac Efron, Thomas Lennon Directed by Burr Steers

The director Burr Steers directed Igby Goes Down which was a great little 2002 movie,does a solid job here with 17 Again. The first 15 minutes of the movie feel lazy and tired...but this "Big", old to young, or "Mr. Destiny", if I could do it again...story is one that has been used many times for a reason...it is entertaining. Mike O'Donnell played well by both Mathew Perry (nice to see him again) and Zac Efron (this pretty boy can act...really) is a guy who can't let go of the idea that his life would've have been better if some things went a little different. After a run in with a mystical janitor he gets to find out...sorta. Thomas Lennon (of Reno 911 and the State fame) is hilarious as his best friend and Leslie Mann (always easy to watch) is very funny as his wife. The surprise here is that I was not won over by the story (which again is lazy) or really the laughs (kinda cheap at times) but Zac Efron...yeah the High School Musical guy who can surprisingly act. He actually was like Matt Perry a few times and I was shocked. I think this kid has a bright future and I'm surprised to think think that I guess. 17 again is predictable, but you will laugh, it is cheesy, but you will feel some emotion, and it is lazy but you won't care...because it is good enough to entertain, and in the end that's what we are looking for when we are chilling on the couch watching a flick to relax...which this one works great for.

The Steers and Efron link up again on The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud which looks interesting. Mann can currently be seen in Funny People and Lennon is back on the beat with the new season of Reno 911. Matthew Perry has something called Dwon and Dirty pictures coming out later this year which is about the rise of the independent film in the 90's...hmmm

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) It doesn't put your brain in overdrive, and it doesn't strike you as all that memorable...but by the end you will have liked the rental...I give 17 Again a solid 6.0 and I hope to see more of all this cast Perry, Mann, Lennon, and Efron.