'17 Again' provides teen movie with a twist

Back in 1989, Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) was on the top of his game. He was in love with the girl of his dreams and about to earn a basketball scholarship during the game of his life. But in one instant his world is turned upside down and is never the same again.

Fast-forward 20 years later, and Mike (Matthew Perry) has drastically changed. His wife, Scarlett (Leslie Mann), is about to divorce him; his kids, Maggie (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Alex (Sterling Knight), are like strangers and his job is going nowhere.

Mike revisits his old high school, the place where all his big dreams began and ended. A mysterious white-bearded janitor (Brian Doyle-Murray) senses that all is not right in Mike's life and asks him if he would do it all over again if given the chance. Mike, without hesitation, replies that he would.

Later that night, Mike spots the mysterious janitor standing on the ledge of a bridge and attempts to rescue him. He then gets sucked into a whirlpool and wakes up as Zac Efron - his 17-year-old self.

Sound familiar? Indeed this plot formula has been recycled over and over again, but in "17 Again," this certain formula has been rehashed with a little more realism.

Instead of Mike going back in time to 1989, he is his adult self, but in his 17 year-old body.

At first, Mike sees the transformation as a selfish opportunity - a chance to get his basketball scholarship and the life he's always dreamed of.

He convinces his best friend, Ned (Thomas Lennon), a professional fanboy, to pose as his dad and enroll him in high school.

Upon arrival, Mike learns that his son has been used as the basketball team's punching bag and his daughter is dating her brother's biggest bully.

Astounded that he knows so little about Maggie and Alex, Mike realizes that he can use his teen boy exterior to inspire parent-like advice into his kids.

"17 Again" delivers a solid storyline with its own set of likeable quirks.

Efron, playing a 37-year-old trapped in a 17-year-old's body, is believable and sincere in his performance -- highlighting quite a range of emotions.

Ned, though a glorified "nerd," is laugh-out-loud funny and awkward, especially when it comes to his attempted romance with the high school principal.

The film offers a decent amount of life lessons that aren't quite as exaggerated as you would think a PG-13 movie would be.

Kids and teens alike will either admire this film for Efron's first big non-"High School Musical" performance or for its surprisingly charming plot formula.

This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.