The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and released in the United States on April 17, 2009, to mixed reviews from critics and grossed $139.5 million.
Plot
In 1989, 17-year-old star athlete Mike O'Donnell found out his girlfriend, Scarlet Porter, was pregnant. Scarlet tells Mike about her pregnancy moments before his likely scholarship-clinching high-school championship basketball game. Mike plays the first few seconds of the game before walking off the court to go after Scarlet, abandoning his hopes of going to college and achieving a career. Twenty years later, 37-year-old Mike finds his life stagnant and dull; he abandons any project he starts. Scarlet, now Mike's wife and the mother of their two children, has filed for divorce. Mike moves in with his best friend, Ned Gold, who is wealthy, geeky, and unhappy. Mike has quit his job after being passed over for a promotion he believed he deserved, and his high-school-age kids, 18-year-old Maggie and 16-year-old Alex, want nothing to do with him. While driving, Mike encounters a janitor on a bridge that transforms him into his 17-year-old self.
After becoming convinced of Mike's identity, Ned believes that Mike's transformation was caused by a mystical spirit guide trying to steer him on a better path. Mike enrolls in high school by posing as Mark Gold, Ned's son. He plans to go to college on a basketball scholarship. As Mike befriends his son, Alex, he discovers that Alex is getting bullied. Mike also learns that his daughter, Maggie, has a boyfriend named Stan, who does not respect her and frequently torments Alex. Mike comes to believe that his mission is to help his kids.
Through their kids, Mike spends time with Scarlet, who notes his remarkable resemblance to her husband but rationalizes it as an odd coincidence. Attempting to fix his relationship with Scarlet, Mike begins to finish all the garden projects he had abandoned as an adult. He does his best to separate Stan and Maggie while encouraging Alex to be more confident. Mike has difficulty resisting his desire for Scarlet, despite the relationship's apparent inappropriateness.
Mike throws a party to celebrate a basketball game win at Ned's house. He confronts Stan, who has recently dumped Maggie for refusing to have sex with him. Mike gets knocked out and wakes up to Maggie trying to seduce him. Mike tells Maggie he is in love with someone else, and Maggie leaves, much to Mike's relief. Scarlet arrives at the party, and Mike shows her that Alex has finally managed to get together with his crush. The two have an intimate conversation where Mike, caught up at the moment, tries to kiss Scarlet. Disgusted, she storms off as Mike tries unsuccessfully to explain his true identity.
On the day of the court hearing to finalize the divorce, Mike makes one last attempt to win Scarlet back (as Mark) by reading a supposed letter from Mike. After he exits, Scarlet notices that the "letter" is directions to the courtroom; she begins to grow curious and postpones the divorce by a month. Frustrated that he could not salvage his marriage, Mike decides to, once again, pursue a scholarship and move on with a new life. Mike reveals his true identity to Scarlet during a high school basketball game. As Scarlet runs away, Mike decides to chase her down, just like in 1989, before transforming and returning to his 37-year-old self. He happily reunites with Scarlet, saying she is the best decision he ever made.
As Mike prepares for his first day as the new basketball coach at his kids' school, Ned—who has successfully started a relationship with Jane—gifts him a whistle. Both are happy with the fresh starts in their lives.
Cast
Matthew Perry / Zac Efron as Mike O'Donnell / Mark Gold: Perry portrays Mike at age 37, while Efron portrays Mike at age 17 in the opening flashback from 1989 and after Mike has undergone his magical transformation into posing as Mark Gold, son of his future friend Ned.
Leslie Mann as Scarlet Porter O'Donnell: Mike's soon-to-be former wife and the mother of his children
Michelle Trachtenberg as Margaret Sarah "Maggie" O'Donnell: Mike and Scarlet's 18-year-old daughter. Her conception was the reason Mike chose to abandon his dreams and marry Scarlet. She formerly dated Stan.
Sterling Knight as Alex O'Donnell: Mike and Scarlet's 16-year-old son. He is hated by everyone in the school, especially Stan.
Melora Hardin as Principal Jane Masterson: principal of the high school that Mike, Scarlet, and Ned used to attend and that Maggie, Alex and "Mark" currently attend. She is also Ned's love interest.
Hunter Parrish as Stan: Maggie's former tough boyfriend. He's nice to everyone except Alex, whom he bullies even in his house.
Kat Graham, Tiya Sircar and Melissa Ordway as Jamie, Samantha and Lauren: the three girls who are friends with Maggie, and constantly trying to flirt with "Mark".
Brian Doyle-Murray as Janitor: the magical spirit guide who makes the transformation possible
Josie Loren as Nicole: the head cheerleader and Alex's crush.
Jim Gaffigan as Coach Murphy: the high school basketball coach, who has been there for 20 years
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 56% based on 149 reviews, with an average rating of 5.40/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Though it uses a well-worn formula, 17 Again has just enough Zac Efron charm to result in a harmless, pleasurable teen comedy."[3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 48 out of 100, based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[4] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[5]
Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars out of 4, writing: "17 Again is pleasant, harmless PG-13 entertainment, with a plot a little more surprising and acting a little better than I expected."[6]
Justin Chang of Variety wrote: "Zac Efron's squeaky-clean tweener-bait profile is unlikely to be threatened by 17 Again, an energetic but earthbound comic fantasy that borrows a few moves, if little inspiration, from Big and It's a Wonderful Life."[7]
Box office
The film was projected to take in around $20 million in its opening weekend.[8] Opening in 3,255 theaters in the United States and Canada, the film grossed $23.7 million, ranking #1 at the box office, with 70% of the audience consisting of young females.[9] By the end of its run, 17 Again grossed $64.2 million in North America and $72.1–75.3 million internationally, totaling $136.3–139.5 million worldwide.[10][2]
Soundtrack
17 Again: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on April 21, 2009, by New Line Records.[11]
