User reviews

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.

A dispirited 37 year-old man (Matthew Perry) is about to lose his wife and high school sweetheart. Through a "spirit-guide" (Brian Doyle-Murray) he is miraculously able to become, you guessed it, 17 again. His younger self is played by Zac Efron, who's actually the star of the movie. Leslie Mann plays his soon-to-be former wife while Thomas Lennon appears as his geeky best friend. Sterling Knight & Michelle Trachtenberg are on hand as his kids struggling through the teen years. Melora Hardin plays the attractive principal while Nicole Sullivan has a glorified cameo.

"17 Again" (2009) is magic from beginning to end, with few missteps. It's both a high school dramedy and a second chance fantasy. There are elements of films like "Back to the Future" (1986) and "Peggy Sue Got Married" (1986), but the uniqueness here is that the protagonist doesn't go back in time, but rather stays in the current day and appears to his family & friends as 17 years-old, even though he's really 37. With one exception, no one knows who he really is.

Efron, who was only 21 during filming, easily carries the film while Mann is one of the most winsome women to walk the Earth. Lennon's amusing character is akin to the Big Bang Theory guys. Best of all, the film has heart, effectively conveying the triumphs and tragedies of the high school experience in all its glory and awkwardness. I know it's clichéd, but "you'll laugh, you'll cry."

The movie runs 1 hour, 42 minutes, and was shot in Santa Monica (Hayden High School), Van Nuys & Los Angeles, California. The script was written by Jason Filardi.

GRADE: A-

I took two teenage girls to see this, and I have to say that we all enjoyed it.

Since the time of Charles Dickens and probably before, characters have been going back to their past in one form or another, or seeing the future, or finding out what life would have been like for others if they weren't around.

Hollywood isn't the place lately for much besides special effects, remakes, and rehashes. The basis for this story - reliving the past - has been used dozens of times - off the top of my head, "Repeat Performance" from 1947, remade as a TV film in 1990, Big, 13 Going on 30, Back to the Future, Peggy Sue Got Married, etc.

"17 Again" doesn't break any new ground, but neither is it an embarrassment. In fact, quite the opposite. It's very witty with good acting and good characters.

Matthew Perry plays Mike O'Donnell, a father of two who's just lost his job and is about to be divorced. He returns to his old high school and is reliving his glory days, when he blew his chance at a basketball scholarship to college.

On the day the scouts were at the school to watch a game, he found out his girlfriend was pregnant and left the game to declare his love for her and propose marriage. While looking at a photo of his old team, he meets a janitor who says he bets Mike would like to be back in high school.

Later on, in "It's a Wonderful Life" style (I prefer to think of this as an homage rather than a rip-off), Mike sees the janitor jump off of a bridge and jumps in to save him.

Mike climbs out of the water, and he's Zac Efron, something I'm sure a lot of both old and young men wish could happen to them. He soon realizes he hasn't been given this gift to re-do his life. He's 17 again for another reason entirely.

Efron, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Michelle Trachtenberg, Melora Hardin, Leslie Mann, and Nicole Sullivan all give excellent performances, with Lennon's character definitely being the showiest and most fun.

Because he's young, good-looking, and a Disney star, many people (usually men) dislike Zac Efron on principle and dismiss him as a pretty boy, something that befell a classic star whom he resembles, Tyrone Power.. Power had a problem getting challenging roles.

The heavy duty teen idol type of thing, to which Efron falls victim, came along in the '50s. Efron's road will be tougher, but he has the talent to pull out of the teen idol genre - dropping out of Footloose was a good first step.

All in all, good fun. I just wish Hollywood would come up with something a little more original, even if it's only once in a while.

I turned on this film as a bit of background noise while I scrolled through Instagram. I quickly found myself invested into this film. Even though Zac Efron doesn't partake in many movies of my liking, I found this movie to be very well casted. Efron shows a talented performance as a young actor. Although I found the beginning to be quite unethical, Efron plays an accurate alternative view of a father coming back to high school many years later. I really enjoyed this film and I think it's a great watch for anybody with some spare time.

Okay, to tell the truth, the only reason I wanted to see this movie was because of Zac Efron. Don't start, I know a lot of people only wanted to see this for Zac Efron like I did! Well, I knew what all was going to happen through the film, I mean, come on, this movie isn't hard to predict. Since I knew what the film basically was going to turn out to be, I was just looking to see if the makers, actors and actresses did it right.

When it immediately started off with Zac Efron shirtless, I knew it was going to be a good movie, haha, joking, but seriously, in the end, I was very pleased with how this turned out. Though cheesy at times, this movie really delivers! I mean, it was clichéd and yet I enjoyed every second! Who says predictable films can't be fun? The movie was excellently done and excellently played out. It even managed to get quite a lot of laughs out of me, and it never stopped entertaining, by that I mean I never lost interest. Yes, this film of course isn't a masterpiece, but I really thought it was very well done and overall lots of fun!

Zac Efron gives a great performance as a teen Mike O Donell and the supporting actors and actresses are all likable and believable in their parts as well, which I found to be even more enjoyment, considering that a lot of films today have teens that couldn't act their way out of a bag. I laughed, I didn't cry, but was really touched at times and then at the end, I nodded my head in approval for 17 Again was a really nice and satisfying teen flick that deserves it's over average rating and any positivity it gets.

My favorite things were Ned's geekiness and Zac Efron's quirky humor with his daughter and son throughout the film. All in all, even if you go in expecting the worst, you'll end the movie with some point of satisfaction and enjoyment, and if you go in with in light and reasonable expectations, you're sure to end up liking it like I did! So do I recommend 17 Again? If you can get into "feel-good" films every once in awhile and are not one of the overly-criticizing film snobs, my answer is a definite yes!

Once in a while I like to go out with my friends to watch a comedy/fun movie. You know one that isn't so deep and leaves you confused, no a movie that you just sit and laugh with your friends and enjoy it to the max. And that's what 17 again is about.

The movie is simply FUN and yes it is funny I burst out laughing a lot. Of course there was the cheesy factor but you must admit it we all want to watch a cheesy movie once in a while.

And oh my Zac Efron knows how to act! Now I know why he is an actor! He portrayed his role perfectly, I was shocked! I like the fact that he took up this movie it will now give him a new reputation as an actor, not a random untalented wannabe from a musical! 17 again is one of those movies that you'd watch multiple times and not be bored! A great movie to see with a bunch of people (friends or family). Great fun! 8/10

You know, I've never really understood the craze around this film's star, but the supporting cast of Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, and Michelle Trachtenberg was enough to make me interested. However, the best thing about the movie is the charisma, likability, and flat out wonderful leading man show from Zac Efron, who is definitely a lot better than I gave him credit for.

'17 Again' really isn't anything you haven't seen before, but what sets it above other movies like it is the cast, especially Efron and Lennon. Efron plays a role similar to what he's done in the High School Musical series (actually, I thought I was watching the wrong movie when this one started), but this time it's his ability to channel the mindset of a man 20 years older than he actually is, in addition to being the same charismatic young man that teenage girls fall over for that makes him a big winner in this one. I definitely see the reason why he's so liked.

Thomas Lennon leads what is probably the best comedic supporting cast to date, and he had me falling over in my seat from laughter. His antics were over the top, yet perfect, and though they will seem a little out of place at first, it works so well, and makes Lennon more than memorable here. Leslie Mann and Jim Gaffigan are criminally underused, as Mann doesn't stretch any of her comedic muscles here, as she's just playing a textbook wife/mother. Matthew Perry is also underused, but it's Efron's version of the character that really counts, and Perry does his best to channel Efron's mannerisms while blending some of his own (everyone loves the sarcastic side of him).

This movie is not without its faults however, the biggest one being the total awkwardness brought on by the events in the movie...subplots involving the main character's daughter and awkward scenes with Efron and Mann ultimately fail on screen (while they sound funny, they just don't play out in the way the film makers hoped), making for some moments that should have you squirming in your seat.

'17 Again' is a simple movie that should please its audience. It goes above similar movies because of a great and likable cast, and doesn't fall victim to becoming a kid's movie despite its star. Efron carries the film extremely well (he really has a future ahead of him), and it's a good movie for a teenager (or family of a teenager) to enjoy.

As I watched this I wondered if they tried to get Rob Low to play the adult Mike O'Donnell? He really looks a lot like what the young Mike would have looked like in seventeen years or so more than Mathew Perry who looks nothing like him. None the less the adult Mike O'Donnell wasn't in the movie all that long so it wasn't a big deal.

This movie has that age old fantasy of what you'd do if only you could have your teen years back again. In this case he's not that much older than the teens so he could fit in to a point. At 70 if I was suddenly 17 what the hell would I do being from another era all together? Although it was pretty funny early on when he showed up at the high school dressed like a 80's kid. The students couldn't figure what he was supposed to be.

All in all it was light hearted entertainment and fun...

This is not really a review, it should be taken more as a collection of impressions of the film.

Very classic teen film where an adult goes back to being a kid to figure out what his way in life really is and to do so he will have to help his children and fall in love with his wife again and all this is crowned with good comedy, from grotesque and embarrassing situations and an avalanche of personal problems of all the secondary characters. In my opinion, this film has the great advantage of deepening the secondary characters a lot, keeping them all together thanks to the protagonist, the whole story travels on parallel tracks which in the end manage to meet in a very obvious but also very nice ending.

Okay! This movie is way more underated. I love this movie. It's gives us many lessons. And the one which I believe the most important is we should not waste our present by living in the past. Stop regreting, believe in you, don't repeat same mistakes and never give up.

This film i saw like many way back in the day and i remember enjoying it and as it came to a cult classic I've just recently revisited it and it seemed to be better than I originally thought. The story is weird, interesting and wholesome with great writing to suit. The cast was wonderful with the plethora of a class actors. And the comedy.. I laughed and smiled harder than I do in most comedies nowadays so this just has it all. I guess the only downsides are its overly cheesy, somewhat typical with the results. But this is still very enjoyable and highly recommended by me.

That is absolutely true, he is not just a pretty face; he also, although not very tall, has a very impressive figure!

Anyway, moving on... At first I couldn't understand why so many teenage girls who absolutely adore Zac didn't like this movie, (my own 15 year old daughter among them). And then it dawned on me: it's because Zac's love interest is not another teenage girl, it's an older woman!

As an older woman myself, I can totally understand why Scarlet was starting to fall for Mark, as it was clearly showed in the dance scene. Which was done beautifully, and Zac Efron can take most of the credit for it.

17 Again has its charms, it was never going to be a great movie, but it's certainly entertaining and non demanding. And to all those people out there who are just rubbishing Zac's performance to the max, give the guy a break, he is just young and you can hardly fault him for that.

Ah... just before I go, if kids in America behave like that in the classroom, I must say that we are way better off in our not so rich, not so important, way smaller and very beautiful New Zealand!

What if you had the chance to relive your teenage years, but with the wisdom of adulthood? 17 Again takes this fantasy premise and transforms it into a heartfelt comedy that explores family, regret, and rediscovery.

The film follows Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry), a man dissatisfied with how his life has turned out, who mysteriously finds himself transformed into his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron). While the setup could have easily fallen into cliché, the movie manages to balance humor with an underlying emotional core.

Zac Efron delivers a surprisingly strong performance, not only capturing the charm and energy expected of a teen comedy lead but also convincingly channeling the spirit of a man in his late thirties. This duality grounds the film in authenticity. The supporting cast, particularly Thomas Lennon as Mike's eccentric best friend, injects lighthearted humor that keeps the tone buoyant without undermining the deeper themes.

Narratively, 17 Again explores ideas of regret and the importance of appreciating what one already has. While the plot follows a relatively predictable arc, it resonates because it taps into a universal desire: the chance to fix past mistakes. The film may not push boundaries, but it succeeds in blending heartfelt emotion with light comedy in a way that feels both entertaining and uplifting.

Rating: 8/10 - A surprisingly charming comedy that balances humor and heart, reminding us that second chances often come from within.

I had a blast with "17 Again", a film that's both charming and hilarious-with just enough heart to make it stick with you. Zac Efron absolutely nails the role of Mike O'Donnell, turning back into his high school self and navigating the awkwardness of teenage life while still holding onto his grown-up worries. I've always been a fan of his, but here-his mix of goofiness and depth was on point. You know, he makes that transformation from "I'm lost in life" to "I'm going to get my life back on track" in such an entertaining way that I couldn't help but root for him.

One of my favourite moments had to be when he reconnects with his high school friends. It's hilarious but also poignant-you see him trying to balance being the guy he was with the guy he's supposed to be. It feels like a weird combination of nostalgia and second chances, which hit me in the feels more than I expected.

Matthew Perry, on the other hand, plays the adult version of Mike, and he does a great job of showing the contrast between his present-day self and the young Zac we see in flashbacks. Perry's character is so relatable-the father who's lost his way but is given a second shot to fix things. There's this whole emotional arc around Mike reconnecting with his family, which is sweet but sometimes feels a bit predictable.

The supporting cast brings their A-game too. I really liked how Michelle Trachtenberg's character, Mike's daughter, had her own coming-of-age moments. It wasn't just about Mike's journey-there were some solid side stories that added more depth to the film. And the relationship with his son? Oh, that was a nice surprise. The way Mike helps him navigate high school drama without directly fixing everything made it feel real, rather than just another "parental advice" moment.

What I wasn't crazy about, though, was how some of the conflict got tied up a bit too neatly. The film builds up some tension, especially around Mike's relationship with his wife (played by Leslie Mann), but the resolution felt a bit rushed. A little more exploration of that could've made the ending even stronger.

Still, it's a really fun ride-and even though some parts felt a tad cheesy, I couldn't help but enjoy the ride. Definitely a feel-good watch, with enough laughs, moments of reflection, and some good ol' time-travel fun to keep you entertained.

17 again is better than I expected. High School or College movies are mainly one time entertainment. This wasn't. Zac Efron and Matthew Perry acted well the role of Mike O'Donnell. 17 again was the last movie of Matthew Perry at the same time. Efron was credible as young Mike who tries to help his children at Hayden High-School. Plot is simple but it is working well in the movie. It isn't only a normal teenager school movie. Mike and Scarlett's marriage problems are the reason why adults can watch the movie together with their children. 17 again is more memorable than this kind of movies usually. It is touching and funny. I recommend this although you wouldn't be a fan of the school movies.

I have to admit that I was kind of prejudiced (as most people are) towards Zac Efron on this one, even though I think he was good on "Hairspray" Where should I begin? I had this film at home for days... a friend recommended this one to me and I had heard some very bad reviews, from some critics, people who don't really like Zac Efron and so on.

I'm glad I finally made up my mind and decided to give this one a chance. This movie made me laugh at times, made me tear up at the right parts and most of all, it made me think.

Matthew Perry was great and I think Zac Efron should really give more dramatic roles a chance, since he proved to me on this one, that he can act. I love it when a movie surprises you in a good way!