Teenager daughters everywhere will be rushing to see High School Musical star and young lust object Zac Effron act out a charming and light-hearted tale of young ambition versus grown up reality.

Both Perry and Effron star as Mike O’Donnell – once a popular 17-year-old with the future on his side. But 20 years later, Mike (Perry) finds his life very different from the one he had hoped for. Returning to his former high school to reminisce, he sees the school janitor ready to jump from a bridge; he rushes to save him, falling into the water himself. It’s only when he arrives back home that Mike realises he’s in fact 17 again –and a humorous and endearing step back into his teen years ensues.

Effron does justice to a new role that takes him away from the young teen tales of High School Musical into grown up Hollywood. This sweet and likable body-swap story is an enjoyable film for all the family, with an underlying moral message and a feel-good happy ending Sometimes you don’t realise just how good a deal you have until you lose it –prepare to smile along as the boys fight to get it back

17 again

Dir Burr Steers, starring Matthew Perry, Zac Effron and Leslie Mann

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 25]