IMDb user comments for
17 Again (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Hide Spoilers:

Page 1 of 13:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Index

122 comments in total

---

82 out of 92 people found the following comment useful :-
Zac Efron, a good actor? Who knew?!, 5 May 2009

Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

As we've seen many movies like this before: Big, 13 Going on 30, and Freaky Friday, we always love to see the retelling of the old classic story of the switching age. Since the story has been used so much, a director can only do so much to just do the best they can with, Burr Steers pulls 17 Again out with great laughs and good fun. I'm going to get this out, I am one of the rare girls that just doesn't get the whole Zac Efron heart throb thing, I agree that he's cute, but with mainly High School Musical only being his claim to fame other than Hairspray, he is adorable, but can he act? Surprisingly… he can. I can't believe I'm saying this, he was actually a good strong lead role and a perfect fit, he has charisma, he's funny, charming and makes this story worth your time and money.

In 1989, Michael O'Donnell was a star athlete with a full college scholarship imminent. He seemingly had it all, when, right before the championship game, his girlfriend Scarlett informed him she was pregnant. In that moment, he made the decision to throw everything away and proposed to her. Twenty years later, Mike's life isn't exactly what he expected it to be. Scarlett wants a divorce from him, forcing him to move in with his geeky millionaire best friend Ned, his job is going nowhere, and his kids Maggie and Alex want nothing to do with him. While paying a visit to Hayden High School to reminisce about the life he threw away, he encounters a strange beardy janitor, who I still swear is Bob Haskins. On the way home, is magically transformed back into his 17-year old self. With Ned posing as his father, he re-enrolls in high school, believing he has been given the chance to have his life over again, "but to do it right". However, he then discovers that his daughter is dating the basketball captain Stan, who is bullying his son. He realizes that his real mission is to help his children as well as finding out that maybe his decision wasn't the worst he ever made in his life.

We go a little Back to the Future-esquire when we get on the creepy level of Michelle Trachtenberg having a crush on Zac Efron who is her father, just that she can't recognize him, it's understanding, but still makes you squirm, but the director and actors pulled the scene off pretty well with getting out of that yucky situation. There is one continuity error: if Mike and his girl got pregnant at the age of 17... 20 years later, yet both their kids are still in high school, the oldest child would only be a maximum of 18. A plot hole: seriously, besides the wife, no one at all recognizes Mike? But I'm over thinking the movie too much at this point, it's just a fun movie with decent performances, I just need to let go of silly mistakes. So I would recommend this movie if you get the chance to see it, but I'd say more of a matinée vs. a full price ticket, it has some good laughs and was a great update of the "What if you could go back?" story.

7/10

---

87 out of 102 people found the following comment useful :-
Pleasantly surprised....., 13 April 2009

Author: ZoeScrace from United Kingdom

I went to see this with film with my teenage daughter and really wasn't expecting to enjoy it. I settled down in my seat for the duration and the first few scenes showing Efron as a high school basketball player had me groaning inwardly as I assumed that this was going to be another predictable high school/age swap film of the type that has been done so many times before - and really isn't the sort of film I would choose to see anyway. Not a promising start. However, I was pleasantly surprised by 17 Again. It was witty and well acted and made me laugh out loud - not something I often do even when I appreciate the humour in a film.

This film's appeal is also strengthened by the acting of the supporting characters as well as the main ones - Thomas Lennon's character was particularly well delivered. I found no fault with Zac Efron's acting in this and I enjoyed his performance in Hairspray but it would be interesting to see him in a serious grown up dramatic role.

---

88 out of 133 people found the following comment useful :-
Not half bad!, 14 April 2009

Author: Sunshine S from Australia

Firstly, I'm a teenager, and I can guess what you're thinking (because I'm psychic), okay i'm not psychic, but you're thinking i went to go see it because of the ZAC EFRON craze.

Ha ha. I went to go see it because of Matthew Perry. I've loved him since F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and I think he's awesome.

Honestly, (sorry Zac), but I went into the cinema with low hopes simply because Zac Efron was in it. I hated High School Musical (I use to babysit, and the little girls I babysat loved the first and second one... oh dear!). Thank Goodness, I actually realised that, above and beyond all the hype on his 'Disney Charm', he can actually act. (As seen in 17 Again).

I think Matthew Perry was great in it, as was Michelle Trachtenberg (Gossip Girl), and Leslie Mann.

I still think that Zac Efron has quite a bit to do to totally diminish his Disney effect, but after 17 again, my personal opinions have changed about him.

I suggest you go see it, whatever age. Humour, interest, and just an all-round enjoyable flick.

---

87 out of 132 people found the following comment useful :-
A genuinely good teen film. Something this generation has been lacking..., 10 April 2009

Author: francesca orr from manchester, chorlton

I've just returned from the cinema after watching this film and I have to say, my friends and I laughed like a bunch of hyenas (probably to the annoyance of anyone behind us) all the way through it. The story of course is nothing original, but you knew that going in, and yes, there are some seemingly ridiculous or stereotypical character setups, again acknowledged beforehand, but the direction and the acting, more than makes up for this. Most of the actors, especially Efron, who proves he's definitely not just a wanna-be pretty boy and actually stores away some talent, play their parts well. Matthew Perry seemed slightly misplaced, even if he was the reason I went to see the film in the first place. Not to mention the director being Burr Steers who directed one of my favourite films. I could kind of tell how in the wrong hands this movie could have been embarrassingly bad, but Steers manages to balance the right amount of comedy with drama and turn it into something really worth seeing. Efron blew me away. I have to say, I didn't see it coming, and I never thought I'd say such a sentence, but this boy can do better than TV Disney movies. I'm kind of glad he has turned down re-make, Footloose, not only because it's a 're-make of footloose'.

On the negative side of things the writing lacked in terms of Mark's relationship with his daughter. The daughter didn't really seem to have a personality, now I'm not totally sure if this is down to Trachtenbergs terrible acting (one of very little who deliver poor performances actually) or poor character development but something was wrong there.

I don't really rate the cinematography, but I don't think it's something to be taken quite seriously in teen films. It's all about the characters and the comedy - but what was up with that image of Zac right before 'Mark' falls into the water? Some interesting choices of music. One of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. Quite moving and Mark is a much more 3 dimensional, well developed character than most PG-13 rated movies you see. I genuinely cared about him, where as, even in Mean Girls, (which is particularly hilarious and legendary as far as contemporary teen films go) I didn't care too much for any of the characters. It's probably because this film went that little bit further than most and took itself seriously, if only for parts of the movie. It makes a big difference.

So, yeah, '17 Again', fairly well written, hilarious, well and sometimes greatly acted and awesome direction for the most part, and a genuinely good, enjoyable and moving film. Take a look and you'll probably be surprised... but don't go in hoping for anything Oscar worthy. I get the impression there is only so much a director can do with a film like '17 Again' and he did it alright.

Trustworthy director and impressive lead, I'd say. Can make all the difference.

p.s. I'd also watch out for that Sterling Knight actor - he plays Marks awkward son. He gave a genuinely good performance also.

---

43 out of 55 people found the following comment useful :-
I'm not a big fan of Efron but..., 23 April 2009

Author: Ali 007 from Canada

I'm not a big fan of Zac Efron but this film was actually good. Its was entertaining it was sweet and it was very funny. It's a little confusing figuring out who was who when he went back to being 17 again. There are a few funny parts and a few sad parts. I caught myself rolling my eyes at the silly high school girls, they are quite pathetic. The story was entertaining and original, along with the characters ( except the high school girl) But however i felt a feeling of Deja Vu , yes i'm talking about 13 going to 30 it wasn't the same type of story but the concept is the same. I would have liked to see more of Matthew Perry though. But frankly i wasn't expecting that much. I was pleasantly surprised and would definitively recommend this very funny movie. It's entertaining and worth watching.

---

55 out of 86 people found the following comment useful :-
It made me laugh to the Brim!, 15 April 2009

Author: Jasleen Matharu from United Kingdom

17 Again was nothing I expected. The trigger that made me actually go and watch it in the Cinema was the fact that the jokes shown on the trailers were hilarious. The film was better.

I was laughing so much, that I missed in between dialogue by some of the characters and it was the perfect film to help you unwind after doing a days worth of work or revision.

When the opening scene started, I was so worried that the whole film was going to turn out as some kind of adaptation of high school musical and there'd be a song every 15 minutes. But it wasn't the case.

This Movie really proved that Efron is not an Amateur who just dances and sings a lot. It proved he is a skilled Actor and his acting brought back memories of Chandler in Friends. In some places, he seemed so much like Matthew Perry which is difficult to pull off for most Amateur actors.

The only reason I didn't give this movie a 10 out of 10 is because some people I watched this movie with believed it had an 'abrupt ending' but I thought you can't have too much of a good thing.

---

27 out of 38 people found the following comment useful :-
Pleasantly Surprised, 22 April 2009

Author: penncare from Southern California

The storyline was very well done and enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised at this movie. Keep an open mind and you will enjoy the movie.

Zac Efron did a really decent acting job. I honestly thought it would be High School Musical-like but it turned out to be a nice movie to watch. If he keeps up the good work and takes it to the next level, he can really be an A level quality star. Zac is no Matthew Macfadden yet but there is potential.

There are two recasts I would have done. Matthew Perry wasn't fully right for this role. He has a comedic bent but it wasn't used at all in this movie - hence a total waste and was a mismatch from a character perspective. I think John Stamos would have been better. Also Michelle Trachtenberg playing the teenager was a bit much. Trachtenberg is a solid actress but for a teenager, a different actress would have been better.

It is a very nice movie and I usually rate a movie on whether it's worth paying full price, matinée, video store, Netflix or don't bother. The movie was worth paying full price.

---

27 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
Probably the best body swap movie to come out for awhile, 19 April 2009

Author: lopcar1993 from United States

Every teen generation needs a good body swap/turn the clock back type of story and 17 again is one of those stories, Mike O'Donnell had it all. He was the star of his high schools basket ball team. He had Scarlet the most beautiful girl in the school as his girlfriend. Right before the game that could make him into a star, Scarlet tells Mike she's pregnant, Mike makes a drastic and life altering decision and runs out of the game to be with her giving up his chances of becoming a basket ball star, now 20 years later Mike's regretting it all and wishes he could do it all over again, and by some miraculous way he does.

17 again is a cool and stylish what if movie, it brings to light the question of what if you could change your life, if you could live it all over again.What would you do different? That's the question this movie propose and tells with a grand lush style that resonates with the teen population and even with the adults too, 17 again is not just some teen movie, it's a movie that even adults between the ages of 30-50 would enjoy it, my dad sure did. But this film has it's flaws and some very minor bad dialogue from Zack Efron but nothing that would hamper this films style or production, but in my honest opinion this film was very good, this movie is not Oscar worthy but it's definitely worth the price of admission.

---

18 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
It was better than I expected, 3 April 2009

Author: IamInnocent2 from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

So I saw an advanced screening. I didn't expect much, but it was actually pretty good! It might be a plot line that has been seen a lot, but this one is actually entertaining. People have compared it to "13 going to 30" but trust me, this one is much better. It has comedy and drama, my sister teared up in one part. Thomas Lennon is pretty funny, Leslie Man always the scene stealer and of course Zac Efron. HE CAN ACT. If you didn't think he was hot before wait until you watch the movie and acts like a real person, not a goody goody fake teenager from "High School Musical" though he was the best performer in that movie (I'm not hating on High School Musical I found it entertaining.) I recommend "17 Again" for adults and mature children.

---

16 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Really surprisingly good!, 10 April 2009

Author: crashvictim from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I went into this a little dubious, unable to get tickets for anything else but set on seeing something - I walked out glad nothing was available! First off, the casting is brilliant with the teenage and adult versions of each of the main 3 characters. Secondly, it proves that Zac Efron really can act, not just sing, dance and play basketball (although they do flaunt the latter two talents of these within the first 10 minutes). Finally, it's original. Although reminding me, and probably everyone who's reading this, of films like Freaky Friday, 13 Going On 30, Big, etc, just being the opposite way in age, it really makes good use of the comedy this situation brings, but doesn't rely on it or overplay on it.

Basically, as long as you're not an Efron-hater, you should walk out of this film not feeling at all ashamed that you'd just watched a film with over 100 ten to fourteen year old girls!

---

---

Page 1 of 13:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Add another comment

---

Related Links

Plot summary	Plot synopsis	Ratings
Awards	External reviews	Parents Guide
Official site	Plot keywords	Main details
Your user comments	Your vote history