Movie: 17 again

In 1989, Mike O’Donnell(Zac Efron) is the high school star and has everything going for him. Just before a crucial basketball match which would change the course of life, his girlfriend breaks the news of her pregnancy to him. Hearing this, Mike leaves the game midway and proposes to his girlfriend.

Now, Mike(Matthew Perry) is in his late 30’s. He is separated from his wife and high school sweetheart, Scarlet(Leslie Mann). His kids, Maggie and Alex do not like him. As Mike does not have a place to live, he stays with his best friend, Ned Gold(Thomas Lennon). Mike believes his life would have changed if he participated in the basketball game on that fateful day in 1989.

Disgusted at seeing the position he yearned for at work going to someone else, Mike turns up at the high school, where he studied and where his kids studies now. At the high school, he meets a janitor(Bryan Doyle-Murray). Mike unknowingly confesses to the janitor that he would like a second chance. Later in the night, he chances upon the same janitor trying to leap from a bridge into the river. But, the janitor leaps into the water before Mike could reach him. To rescue the janitor, Mike jumps into the river. When Mike comes out of the water, he has transformed into his 17 year old self.

On reaching Ned’s house, Mike is mistaken for a thief. But, Ned is convinced by Mike’s plea and their high school pictures. After vainly trying to fathom this mystery, Mike finds this to be an opportunity to get closer to his estranged family. He, then, convinces Ned to enroll him in their old high school as Ned’s son. What happens between Mike and his family forms the rest of the story.

Burr Steers directs this comedy based on second chance. There has been many movies based on second chances wherein the protagonist regrets past actions and finally finds peace with the decisions taken. This movie follows the tried and tested pattern. Hence this does not have anything new to offer.

Skip this!

Language: English

Genre: Comedy

Rating: *

Picture Courtesy: http://www.cinemablend.com

Tags: Movies,Zac Efron,Matthew Perry,Leslie Mann,Thomas Lennon,Bryan Doyle-Murray,Burr Steers,Comedy