Reno Reviews 17 AGAIN

ENGLISH - (PG13) - 4 June 2009 - Comedy
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Running time: about 102 mins.
Director: Burr Steers
Producers: Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Writers: Jason Filardi, Keenan Donahue
Casts: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg, Matthew Perry
Plot: Mike O'Donnell was once the most popular guy in high school - handsome, charming, the star of the basketball team, with a college scholarship in his future and a lifetime of experience that baffles even his closest friends. That was then, this is now - or is it? A magical transformation finds Mike reliving his past in the present day as a 17-year-old in the same high school he attended 20 years ago. However, this time around, his own teenage kids are his peers and his wife is the unsuspecting object of his affection.

THE VERDICT:

Reno Ooi says:

WARNING FOR SPOILER! 17 Again, just like its poster portrayed, is a show about Zac Efron, aka Mike O'Donnel in the movie. Nothing to expect much from the movie. However, Zac Efron still has his charm that I think still works for most people -- thanks to High School Musical.



It is a story about how a grown-up man being given a second chance to lead his life of a 17-year-old teen once again. Not a fresh idea as I believe there are couple movies with similar theme. But, being repeated is one thing, being interesting is another. The idea of becoming young once again and redo the relationship with people around the character is enjoyable, plus you can watch the charming Zac playing basketball. Overall, story-wise, is concluded as no surprise, because the ending is always the character learns something valuable about life and lives happily ever after.

Well, since the story is not much an attraction, the producer made a wise move by casting Zac in the movie. Zac did work in the movie, not because of his acting skill, but due to his popularity he gained during High School Musical. His skill still needs much improve because he is still having much residue from the character in HSM. Anyway, if you don't mind about that, or you are a fan of him, you will scream in excitement watching him playing his charm, just like much female audiences in the hall when I watched.

It is a teen movie. So, like other movies in this genre, you need cool musics in this movie. However, I didn't get to hear any interesting song when watching it. Musics in teen movie are meant to make those scene more memorable and enjoyable. But, in this movie, the songs are great dissapointment. I think I would advise the composer group to learn much from Gossip Girls, One Tree Hill etc.

It's all I can say for this movie. Since now is the holiday week, it's still a movie of choice for secondary students or younger ones. It is passable for more grown-up people, yet if you wana relive the joy of such kind of becoming-young-again movie, go for it.

THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.5 stars
STORY - 3.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.0 stars
EFFECTS - 3.0 stars
an overall>> 3.0 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 12.6