He shoots, he scores...it's what Zac Efron does best in 17 Again. With recent talk of the teen idol stemming away from musicals by stepping away from the Footloose remake, it seems as though the heartbreak kid has a good head on his shoulders leading him in the right direction.
The film opens up in 1989 with Efron and Matthew Perry's character, Mike O'Donnell, playing on his high school basketball team. Yes, there is a dance sequence and yes, Efron hops in with the cheerleaders because that's usually what star basketball players do before a big game. If producers wanted to throw in some of Zac's character from High School Musical to swoon the teenage girls, then they did what they came to do. Just when O'Donnell's about to play the game that will alter his life, his girlfriend breaks some bad news causing him to walk out.
Enter Matthew Perry. Twenty years later, he's about to be divorced, sleeps in his wealthy best friend's (played by Thomas Lennon who is downright hysterical) spare room, his kids hate him, and he's far from the dreamy basketball player he once was.
After meeting a magical and mysterious custodian giving him the chance to relive his senior year of high school, re-enter Efron whose character is 38 years old trapped in his old 18-year-old body. Throughout the course of the movie, the expected corny mannerisms and awkward situations occur, such as his 18-year-old daughter trying to kiss him, a developing love relationship with his new friend's mother (who is actually his estranged wife), and his real best friend doing everything and anything to catch the eye of the principal. However, if Efron was coming into this trying to prove himself a respectable actor who is ready for roles far and away from his High School Musical days, then he came out a winner.
He possesses a charm, a mystique, and overall worthy performance in his not so perfect film. Plus, his handsome appearance isn't too shabby either...now I know why all of the teen girls are raving over this 21-year-old. Although I found the movie enjoyable (perhaps because my 10-year-old cousin was with me), I much preferred what Zac brought to the film...spunk, attitude, class, and most importantly, talent.
Heartthrob Zac Efron proves he's come a long way from