17 Again is Efron’s first big movie with him heading the line-up. The pressure is on him, especially when this is also his first big role in a non-musical feature and really required some serious acting.

And disappoint he did not. Instead, and even more surprisingly, young Zac Efron was able to pull off the role of a father stuck in a teenager’s body.

Efron put on a performance that is earnest, sincere and fatherly; with a big chunk of humour in between. Who would have guessed the High School Musical heartthrob has so much depth in his acting chops? He even projected the shadow of a middle-aged man with conservative views and attitude.

But credit has to go to director Burr Steers as well for guiding Efron. This is only Steers second feature film and he has done well in the storytelling, given how badly the movie was written. Some staggering continuity issues and credibility-stretching coincidences should have been rectified, like how the son’s tormentor at school is also the daughter’s boyfriend but sibling love clearly wasn’t an issue.

Fortunately, there was a competent cast. Matthew Perry didn’t show up too much, which is best seeing as how he and Efron looks nothing alike. But he did enough with the limited screen time to establish the back story.

Leslie Mann did exceptionally well considering that I have never ever liked anything she did before. Her chemistry with Efron was unmistakable and that really helped when he had to woo her again as a teenager.

17 Again was not a well-written piece, but it proved that Zac Efron is a triple-threat star-power that is beginning to rise. With Efron oozing with charm and charisma, a lot of the shortcomings in the movie was even overlooked. He even managed to lift his co-stars’ performances. Now that’s talent.

Rating: 6 / 10

(all images from imdb.com)