Prepare for an onslaught of Zac Efron-insanity: dorm room walls plastered with Hollywood's sexiest swoop and the blinding bright light of his glistening washboard abs illuminating the night sky.
The "King of Disney" has done it once again, bringing his effervescent smile to the big screen, along with a gaggle of 'tween girls everywhere sprinting to catch a glimpse of this young Brad Pitt in the making.
Efron's new film, 17 Again, is the reflective tale of Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry, Birds of America) looking back on his high school glory days, wondering how his life would have turned out if he never left his promising basketball future on the court.
Finding himself in the midst of an impeding divorce from his high school sweetheart Scarlett (Leslie Mann, Knocked Up) and a nonexistent relationship with his children Alex and Maggie (Sterling Knight and Michelle Tranchtenberg), all Mike has on his side is his geek-turned-rich best friend Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon, I Love You, Man) allowing him to squat in the spare bedroom.
As often forecasted, when it rains, it pours. Mike finds himself falling into a warped tunnel of fate, turning his dejected adult self back into the confident and exultant 17-year-old stud he once was.
Returning to his teenage prime (Efron), Mike lights up the screen as he realizes that his remarkable transformation is not to benefit his life lost, but rather to help his children find a path that leads them to a self-defined state of autonomy.
Returning to his old stomping grounds at Hayden High, Mike masks himself as Ned's son and heads straights to Principal Jane Masterson's (Melora Hardin, Hannah Montana: The Movie) office to re-enroll under the pseudo-name Mark.
Once inside the halls, Mark finds himself quick at work to turn Maggie and Alex's future into gold. Realizing that he was not the dominant father figure he wished he were, he uses this time to change the relationships.
Efron does a surprisingly fantastic job at capturing the raw emotion that his adult character is still coming to grips with. His witty catch phrases and jaw-dropping stares allow him to move throughout Hayden High effortlessly while he keeps his eye on the prize: getting Scarlett to rethink their divorce.
Lennon steals the show as the hilariously Jedi/Trekie-loving Ned as he attempts to muster up the courage to ask the principal out on a date.
With a slew of failed attempts in attention grabbing garb, he finally wins her over and realizes that they have much more in common than he expected. The side love story does not take away from the movie's main objective but makes for a delightful treat for those who need a break from Efron's overwhelming physique.
The movie does well as the plot strays away from being the typical account of getting a second chance at life.
Directed by Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down) and written by Jason Filardi (Bringing Down the House), the duo creates a charming atmosphere that helps propel the predictable storyline into a memorable spring offering. Though the film was cast well, they could have replaced Tranchtenberg, whose days in high school have far surpassed her.
Overall, the film will leave audiences rethinking their idea of reliving their past. However, this film does not intend to re-write history, but rather create a clear future for a movie star.
Just don't tell Troy Bolton.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
