17 Again is a film from 2009 that has recently been put on Netflix. The film was directed by Burr Steers, according to IMDb, who is also known for directing “Pride and Prejudice,” and includes many familiar faces from other popular film and television projects. It is about a man named Mike O’Donnell, who wants to redo his teenage years in order to rewrite the mistakes he made in high school. The problem is that he should have been more specific with his wish.

The movie starts out with young Mike O’Donnell, played by Zac Efron, getting ready for his highschool basketball pictures with his team and the waterboy, Ned Gold. Fast forward  20 years later— Mike, now played by Matthew Perry, lives with Ned, played by Thomas Lennon. His highschool sweetheart, (his future wife) Scarlet, played by Allison Miller, wants a divorce.  During a storm, he gets sucked into a time portal, but, instead of going back 20 years, he becomes 17 in the current year, 2009. To keep his cover, O’Donnell says his name is Mark and that he is Ned’s son. He has trouble adjusting to high school (especially with his kids there), and he struggles with not revealing to his wife who he actually is. 

O’Donnell makes the basketball team again, and, while playing at a game, he sees his wife in the crowd and gives her the same hand motions as he did when they were in highschool together. Once she realizes who he is, she runs out of the gym, and he runs after her. While running after her, he passes through a time portal and turns into an adult again. 

While it can be confusing at times, “17 Again” is overall an intriguing movie. It keeps you reeled in with the drama and romance that happens throughout the movie. I would definitely recommend this movie to more mature audiences because of the language and some elements of romance.