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Efron's Charm Helps Unoriginal 17 Again

High School Musical star adds life to age-old body-swap concept

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 17, 2009 8:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – The doing-your-life-over-again movie 17 Again does what its many predecessors have done over and over again, say critics, but Zac Efron runs through the clichés with charismatic charm.

Claudia Puig, USA Today: "Though not as clever as 13 Going on 30 or Freaky Friday, it's also not as hokey as Hannah. For a swoon-fest aimed at tweens, 17 Again has a lot going for it."

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: "The ancient body-switching premise is animated by a breezy script that briefly addresses some of its darker implications before returning to a celebration of adolescence."
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: "Efron, in his first non-singing and dancing feature film, proves he has an agreeable and kinetic screen presence, although his ability to convince us he's truly a 37-year-old encased in a 17-year-old's body is dramatically dubious."

[Videos (1)]

In this film publicity still released by Warner Bros., Zac Efron is shown in a scene from, "17 Again." (AP Photo/Warner Bros., Chuck Zlotnick)

Zac Efron, star of "17 Again," arrives at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Trailer for "17 Again." (YouTube)

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Efron's Charm Helps Unoriginal 17 Again

High School Musical star adds life to age-old body-swap concept