Back to the Future Again

Grade: B

Off the long list of movies I've seen in the past few months and haven't gotten around to writing about, 17 Again is making it on here because it releases on dvd today. So all of you Zac Efron fans, Matthew Perry fans, and fans of movies like Big that didn't get a chance to see this in theaters, now's the time to contemplate: to netflix or not to netflix?

As for those of you wondering why I saw this movie at all, much less in theaters, here's the thing: I'm in that third category (no, not the Zac Efron one). When I saw the trailer for 13 Going on 30 I was all like "Big rip-off, lame," but you know what? It was a total rip-off of Big and still awesome. Everytime I see the "Thriller" dance scene on TV I get hooked.

Much in the same way, 17 Again is a complete and unapologetic rip-off of Back to the Future. Not only does it crib plot points, but it makes direct allusions. Except it's Back to the Future in reverse, as this time Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry --> Zac Efron) is in high school with his kids, not his parents. Remember that scene where Marty McFly wakes up in bed pantless thinking it's all a dream til Lea Thompson wakes him? Same thing happens here, except it's Mike's daughter. Creepier? Probably.

But much in the way that 13 Going on 30 is a rip-off that reminds you what you like about the original, 17 Again still manages to capture enough of Back to the Future's fun to be a perfectly watchable and even enjoyable movie. Other perks: Zac Efron proves he can be charismatic without singing, Leslie Mann is better served than in Funny People, and Weeds's Shane plays a bully. Also, a subplot involving Mike's rich but dorky best friend (Reno 911's Thomas Lennon) and his quest to woo the school principal (Jan from The Office) scores most of the biggest laughs.

I'm aware that 13 Going on 30 went well beyond its Big premise to be a good movie in its own right, and 17 Again certainly can't compare. But still, don't be too quick to write this one off as a non-musical version of High School Musical. And remember - sometimes unoriginal can still be fun.

Spring Movie Preview

Sick of deciding between Revolutionary Road and Paul Blart: Mall Cop? Well, the spring movie season is upon us, and I've compiled ten movies I'm excited to see. Now, spring doesn't have the blockbusters of the summer or the pedigree of the fall (and I'll likely strike most of these from the list as reviews come in), but that doesn't mean some diamonds can't be found in the rough.

Coraline (February 6th)
From the real director of The Nightmare Before Christmas (no, it wasn't Tim Burton), Coraline shares Nightmare's alternate world style fantasy and fantastic visuals. Plus this time there's Neil Gaiman as source material and 3D. Given the great reviews, Coraline looks like the best argument that February isn't all Oscar leftovers.

Gomorrah (February 13th)
Italy's snubbed submission for Best Foreign Film has been called the best mob movie since The Godfather by just about everyone who's seen it. What higher praise do you need?

Watchmen (March 6th)
If you've read the graphic novel or seen the trailers, you don't need me to tell you this is the biggest movie of the spring. The movie is also intriguingly cast, featuring Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson. If a dark tale of outlawed superheroes isn't your thing, best stay out of the way of the book's obsessive fans.

Duplicity (March 20th)
Tony Gilroy's follow up to Michael Clayton, this one looks a bit lighter with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as former spies exploiting two competing companies. The trailer makes this look like a lot of fun, and I'll see Clive Owen in just about anything. Maybe even The International.

I Love You, Man (March 20th)
While looking for a Best Man for his wedding to Rashida Jones, Paul Rudd becomes bffs with Jason Segel. While not actually affiliated with Judd Apatow, the Rudd/Segel pairing should make this a no-brainer for Apatow fans.

Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27th)
These CGI kids movies can definitely go either way, but I like what I've seen so far. A voice cast consisting of Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland, Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, and Rainn Wilson also doesn't hurt.

17 Again (April 17th)
This is probably the movie from this list I'm least likely to see, but I couldn't disappoint Zac Efron fans excited to see him back onscreen. Personally, I'm more interested in Matthew Perry's return to film and the Big-in-reverse concept.

State of Play (April 17th)
I couldn't tell you what this is about, but I do know it's based on a supposedly awesome British miniseries, the cast is stacked (Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman), and the trailer looks really intense. That's enough for me.

The Informers (April 24th)
Early word from Sundance says this LA-in-the-80s set drama is more Rules of Attraction than American Psycho on the Bret Easton Ellis adaptation scale. But given my love for Ellis' books (and an appropriately 80s-nostalgic cast featuring Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, and Winona Ryder), that's certainly not enough to deter me.

The Soloist (April 24th)
I usually say nothing is worse than failed Oscarbait (the movie was pushed from November to April), but Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx could change my mind.