Going back into the past - 17 AGAIN tackles again the topic of an adult dissatisfied with his life given a second chance.

Nothing new in this plot that have not been tackled before in films of this genre like BIG, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON and female versions like the two FREAKY FRIDAY films.  In director Burr Steers’ (IGBY GOES DOWN) film, loser Mike (Matthew Perry) relives his youth as a 17-year old (Zac Ephron) while trying to do good to save his family.

The journey back to the past occurs (unbelievably) by Mike falling into a river while trying to save a mysterious janitor (Brian Doyle-Murray).  So, Mike gets to relive the good old days and get his second chance to correct life.  The film actually gets better thanks to the enthusiasm and charm of Zac Efron who takes the role both seriously enough to make his audience care for a character stuck in basically a nonsense plot.  But the script often sinks into sentimentality.  If 17 AGAIN would have been funnier or more inventive, it would have risen above films of this tired genre.  Perhaps the filmmakers should be given a second chance – but with different material.