17 Again (2009)

Back when this movie was heavily advertised, my feelings were equally split between thinking it looked terrible and thinking it looked cute. My curiosity won out. Fortunately, so did cute.

Zac Efron's basically doing a Matthew Perry impression for much of the movie, but there are worse ways to go with the role. He's got to break out somehow, so why not as everyone's favourite Friend? Sure, despite the fact that he's 21, I'm completely uncomfortable with the sight of his shiny, bronzed, hairless chest* (he is a child! put your clothes on!). Even so, he generates some serious heat with Leslie Mann (who wouldn't?), and he has a genuinely likeable screen presence. It will be nice if that translates to success outside of musicals as well.**

Of course, writer Jason Filardi's got this little problem where he can't tell the difference between 17 and 20, so he doesn't realize that if you had a child 20 years ago, that child would not be 17 today. It's completely distracting if you are the kind of person who gets hung up on that sort of thing, and I am exactly that person. Fortunately Michelle Trachtenberg rules (esp. on Gossip Girl), so it all comes clean in the wash.

He's also got this problem with sexual politics and can't seem to make up his mind about what position he wants to take. He ends up backing two horses: abstinence and marrying your high school sweetheart should you knock her up. Why isn't safe sex an option? What about oral and toys and a host of other options out there? Alright, I might be pushing it a little for a movie rated PG-13. I should just be happy that they acknowledged condoms.

All in all, it's a cute little movie about a guy who learns to stop being such a dick, which is a pleasant change as far as rom-coms go. Plus, you know, cute. B

*Unlike Hunter Parrish's chest, which we don't see at all but really should have.

**Though I would be all for a musical revival if one were to suddenly develop, MGM-style.