17 Again

I was traveling this week and had a lot of time to kill before my red-eye. So I decided to do something I've never ever done before in my life. Watch a movie by myself. Insanity!! From the title of this post, you could guess what I chose to watch. When I saw the 17 Again commercials, I have to admit that I actually wanted to see it. There is something about Zac Efron that makes him...not hatable. Do you know what I mean? He was in High School Musical for goodness' sake...I was meant to dislike the franchise and him. But I don't hate him and find that I actually really like him. After watching 17 Again, I think he is a legitimate actor who will definitely go places.

There is something about body switching or father becomes son or mother becomes daughter movies (whatever you want to call it) that are timeless. That is why they keep making them...Big, Freaky Friday, Vice Versa and Like Father Like Son. People may think the concept is dumb, and it is. What makes them work are the actors who make something so ridiculous seem believable.

The same goes for 17 Again. Zac Efron really seemed like an adult trapped in a teenager's body. His speech about safe sex was really funny. His interaction with his ex-wife who is 20 years his senior wasn't creepy at all. He said and did things that his older self would have said and done. It made perfect sense that he really was 37 years old but looked like a teenager. This movie was hilarious but, at the same time, heartwarming.

So you should watch it! Anyone would enjoy this movie, even boys. I was sitting in front of these guys (no girls in the group) who obviously liked the movie. They were laughing really loud like every few minutes. It was really annoying. But aside from that, I enjoyed my movie going experience by myself.

Update 4/27/09: This is a picture of Matthew Perry when he was young. It is not totally unimaginable that he looked like Zac Efron when he was younger. Am I right? No?