[IMDB link] [Netflix link] *Watched in 720p HD.
PEOPLE: Matthew Perry (aka Chandler from Friends), but then he gets all young and becomes Zac Efron. Melora Hardin (Jan from The Office) as Principal Jane (see what they did? Jan? Jane?). Hunter Parrish (Silus from Weeds; it took a long time to recognize him) as the douchebag bully. Leslie Mann (Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin, The Cable Guy) as the love interest. Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy The Vampire Slayer). Thomas Lennon (Hancock, Memento, Reno 911, Viva Variety, The State) as the rich geek best friend.
QUIRKS: Contrary to some belief, this is *NOT* a body-swap movie *OR* a time-travel movie. He literally becomes a 17-year-old version of himself in the present day. Which actually makes this a unique gimmick in the “body swap comedy” genre.
There is also some great geekism depicted in the movie, between the rich best friend and the principle. “You can plunder my dungeon any time.” “I’ll bring my longbow.” Then they start talking in what I think was Quenya.
MORALS: This movie deals with regret — having regret for your past decisions, and learning to work through them. It’s actually kind of therapeutic to watch.
I’ve often questioned that if I could travel back to high school and re-inhabit my 10th grade self… Would it be worth having all the work I’ve done between now and then destroyed? Imagine having to re-buy all your albums, and sit through almost 20 years of new movie releases that you’ve already seen. Imagine everything you’ve ever written no longer existed; every picture taken gone; every file processed not processed, every dollar you earned now gone. Would it be worth it? And if so, is the only reason merely that it would extend your perceived life by 20 years? Or is the reason deeper than that?
Part of me thinks I would know every correct decision to make, and would repeat none of my mistakes, while realizing in advance who to make friends with, when to go, when to wait, and when to act. Another part of me couldn’t bear to part with everything that’s already here now. This movie, however, takes the two ideas and smooshes them together. You’re in high school — now, 2009 — and are getting a second chance to do things. The only bad thing is that he didn’t get to stay young forever (is this a spoiler? obviously in every movie where someone’s body changes, they are always reverted by the end!). But that’s what he wanted. The movie gave him a form of personal growth that he couldn’t have experienced otherwise.
CONCLUSION: It’s not quite fair to call this a body swap comedy, since there is only one person involved. But this was both funny and endearing at the same time. They actually made something somewhat inspiring out of the gimmick.
RATINGS: Clint: IMDB: 8/10. Netflix: 4/5 stars.
Carolyn: IMDB: 8/10. Netflix: 3/5 stars. I keep saying 8/10 is too high for 3/5!
RECOMMENDATION: My recommendation is somewhat neutral — Did you like what you just read? Than see it. Is seeing a High School Musical star star in a high school movie beyond your tolerance? Then don’t see it.
MOVIE QUOTE: Principal Jane Masterson: “Are you peacocking?”
COINCIDENCES: (Less Than Zero, 17 Again) Within a few days of watching Less Than Zero, 17 Again has a scene where he talks about someone reading Less Than Zero.
Mood: full of blueberry muffins, cauliflower, broccoli, and celery
Music: Kreator – Brainseed
October 14, 2009 at 3:20 PM
[…] What they experienced when they were 17. Since I can’t experience the events of a movie like 17 Again, I’ll just have to be content to try to remember my own […]
January 21, 2010 at 11:49 AM
[…] •17 Again – great for anyone with regrets •American Pie 7: The Book Of Love (2009) – best American Pie since the original trilogy • Big Nothing (2006) – black comedy •Bruno (2009) + Howard Stern On Demand appearance [disturbing] + DiggNation appearance •Envy – forgot to review this, but pretty damn funny! IMDB: 7/10, Netflix: 4/5. •Extract (2009) – Mike Judge’s worst yet? Still good. •Extreme Movie – very surprising that this made it to the 4-star list •Female Trouble (1974) – John Waters! •Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009) – British time travel comedy! •*Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer — see HORROR/THRILLER section, since it’s a horror-comedy •Jawbreaker (1999) – a more modern Heathers-lite of sorts •John Tucker Must Die (2006) – high school conspiracy galore •Made For Each Other (2009) •Mean Girls – rewatched without Carolyn; better than I remember •Pineapple Express (2008) – disappointing in that it was barely a comedy •Yes Man (2008) – great gimmick! •Sama Taimumashin Burusu (Summer Time Machine Blues) – another foreign time travel comedy! •Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby •Totally Awesome (2006) – great unknown spoof of 80’s movies •When Do We Eat? (2005) aka My Big Fat Jewish Sadr – best family drug movie ever […]
March 15, 2010 at 7:08 AM
[…] Written & Directed by Judd Apatow. Starring Seth Rogan, Adam Sandler, and Leslie Mann (17 Again, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Timecode). With Eric Bana (Nero in Star Trek 0, Bruce Banner…..)) […]
August 28, 2010 at 4:22 PM
[…] Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls, Cloverfield, 6 eps of True Blood), Collette Wolfe (Observe And Report, 17 Again, Four Christmases, The Foot Fist Way), and Jessica […]
October 19, 2010 at 7:08 AM
[…] Ordway was also in 17 Again, but played such a minor part that this really is more of a coincidence than […]
November 3, 2010 at 7:08 AM
[…] never does get as hot as her IMDB pictures… definitely better as a blonde). She was also in 17 Again. Bit parts by Aziz Ansari (Human Giant), Patton Oswalt, Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express..))) […]
March 24, 2011 at 7:10 AM
[…] Starring Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Observe And Report, Land Of The Lost, and uncredited roles in Fanboys and Superbad); Mary Jane Bostic (a n00b) as his wife; Ben Best (who co-wrote it) as the famous fighter; and keep an eye out for Collette Wolfe (Jody Hill‘s wife, also the “crippled” girl in Observe And Report, 17 Again). […]
September 15, 2011 at 7:10 AM
[…] movies, The Ladykillers), Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live), Thomas Lennon (The State, Ned Gold in 17 Again, Hancock, Memento), and Joe Lo Truglio (The State, Role Models, Pineapple Express, Fanboys,…))) […]