17 Again

Film (with rating): 17 Again (PG-13)

Studio:  Warner Home Video

Summary: Nearly 40-year-old Mike O'Donnell realizes his job stinks, his kids resent him and his marriage to his high-school sweetheart is over. But he's given another chance at life when he's miraculously transformed back to the age of 17, but in the present day and with the outlook of a thirtysomething husband and father.

Review: I'm too old to be a fan of "High School Musical" (any of them. What are we up to now in that franchise? Twelve?) or its bubble-gum star Zac Efron. I knew the audience the movie studio shot for when releasing this film, and I'm about 25 years past the edge of that marker. Yet when I watched "17 Again," I was pleasantly surprised, not just with the story, but with Efron. He's not nearly as tweener cheesy as I feared. He's got a likeable charm about him, and he's easy on the eyes to boot. Plus, his comedic timing was admirable. The film's plot, while on the surface sounds completely recycled ("Big," "13 Going on 30," "Freaky Friday") actually added a few twists, characters and unique subplots to keep the story reasonably fresh. The movie is slow to show its real flavor, but once it gets going, it does so quite well. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a great movie, but it was enjoyable and cute. I loved the scenes featuring Ned, portrayed beautifully by hysterically funny Thomas Lennon of "Reno 911" fame. The man is a comedy genius, and he holds nothing back here. Matthew Perry, who plays the grown up Mike, is rather bland, but I think that was the point. And Efron, as both Young Mike from 1989 and Young Mike Today, holds his own both in the funny and more serious moments. No, "17" not my favorite film of the year, not by a longshot. But it's a pleasant romp that you can watch with your own tweeners, both enjoying it for different reasons.

Extra highlight: "Going Back to 17" for you, and "Zac's Dance Flashback" for your tweener daughter.

What to serve for dinner: What was your favorite food as a teen? I'm thinking pizza, mac and cheese, hamburgers. Let's update those cravings with some adult flare. Serve up caramelized-onion and gorgonzola grilled pizza ("Gourmet," June 2008). Add a mixed-green salad, garlic bread and red wine.

    * 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
    * 1 1/4 pound onions (two large), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
    * 14 to 16 ounce pizza dough, thawed if frozen
    * 1/4 pound Gorgonzola dolce, crumbled (1 cup)
    * 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
    * 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley


Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat until it shimmers, then cook onions with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper, covered, stirring occasionally, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and keep warm, covered.

Prepare a grill for direct-heat cooking over low charcoal (medium heat for gas). Stretch dough into a roughly 12- by 10-inch rectangle on a large baking sheet and brush with one tbsp. oil. Bring dough, onions, cheese, nuts, parsley, and remaining oil to grill area.

Oil grill rack, then put dough, oiled side down, on grill and brush top with remaining oil. Grill, covered, until underside is golden brown, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Using tongs, return crust to baking sheet, turning crust over (grilled side up). Sprinkle evenly with onions, cheese, nuts, and parsley. Slide pizza from sheet onto grill and grill, covered, until underside is golden brown and cheese is partially melted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into pieces.

What to talk about over dinner: What were you like in high school? Would you ever want to be 17 again? Why or why not? What are the perks? The downside? What mistakes from your past would you want to rewrite? What did you do well in high school that shaped who you are today? What were your favorite parts of high school? The most hated parts? When was your life most golden? Who was the Zac Efron of our tween years? Compare this movie to other middle-age-life-swap flicks. How does it measure up?