“17 Again” brought back lots of memories of my high school times–the basketball games, the popular mean people, the crushes and dating. But what would you do if you were joking about being 17 and changing something in the past and you woke up the next morning and it really did happen? I’d be a little bit freaked out if that were me!
The movie begins in 1989, when Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) is a basketball star with a bright future and a college scout watching him. However, he screws things up because his girlfriend at the time tells him that she’s pregnant right before the big game. What a way to ruin anyone’s night!
This ruins all Mike’s chances at a bright future, and he gets married.
Twenty years later, Mike’s marriage is falling to pieces, and he has been passed up for a promotion at work. On top of all the bad things that are already happening, his kids think that he’s some kind of loser. How sad can that be when your whole family wants nothing to do with you and wants you out of their lives?
Mike then has a brilliant idea of wanting to go back to the past, and he tells his best friend of all times, Ned, about how he’d like to do things all over again so he can get his life back in order with his family.
He gets what he wants, and the next morning he wakes up as a 17-year-old high school senior (played by Zac Effron). Mike may look like he’s 17, but in reality he’s still the 30-something year old man inside. Mike has a second chance this time, and he’s determined to not mess it up.
While he may be a senior again, it’s not 1989 anymore. It’s the present day of 2009.
Mike finds himself at the same high school where his kids are and the big basketball star is his son Alex, who gets bullied around by the varsity basketball captain, who is dating Maggie, his daughter.
As the story goes on, Scarlett (Mike’s wife) sees the resemblance between young Mike and her husband. Mike and Scarlett bond throughout this movie, and as they spend more time together, Mike begins to realize all of his mistakes.
He knows he just can’t go on with the rest of his life without his family. Mike has to do something before it’s too late before he loses his marriage, his kids, and everything important to him.
The bottom line: “17 Again” has the perfect combination of adventure, love, and comedy to it. This is a fun family movie with a warm heart felt message to it. Just remember: enjoy life while you can!