17 Again (2009)

Director:

Burr Steers

Writer (WGA):

Jason Filardi (written by)

Release Date:

17 April 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Who says you're only young once?

Plot:

About a guy whose life didn't quite turn out how he wanted it to and wishes he could go back to high school and change it. He wakes up one day and is seventeen again and gets the chance to rewrite his life.

Plot Keywords:

High School | School | Janitor | Bridge | Basketball

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Zac Efron	...	Mike O'Donnell
Leslie Mann	...	Scarlet
Thomas Lennon	...	Ned Gold
Matthew Perry	...	Mike O'Donnell (Adult)
Tyler Steelman	...	Ned Gold (Teen)
Allison Miller	...	Scarlet (Teen)
Sterling Knight	...	Alex
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Maggie
Adam Gregory	...	Dom
Hunter Parrish	...	Stan
Mario Cassem	...	Samir
Kat Graham	...	Jamie (as Katerina Graham)
Tiya Sircar	...	Samantha
Melissa Ordway	...	Lauren
Melora Hardin	...	Principal Jane Masterson
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Janitor
Josie Loren	...	Nicole
Jim Gaffigan	...	Coach Murphy
Randy Gordon	...	Photographer
Collette Wolfe	...	Wendy
Tommy Dewey	...	Roger
Linda Miller	...	Female Janitor
Lorna Scott	...	Secretary
Kodi Kitchen	...	Hostess
Ellis Williams	...	Bailiff (as Ellis E. Williams)
Diana Maria Riva	...	Judge
Jeff Snyder	...	Waiter
Antonio Lewis Todd	...	Referee (1989)
Angee Hughes	...	Waitress
Ed Ackerman	...	School Cop
Will Schaub	...	Referee
Loren Lester	...	Mike's Lawyer
Alexander George	...	Kid in Hallway (as Alexander Goschin)
Nicole Sullivan	...	Naomi
Margaret Cho	...	Mrs. Dell
Larry Poindexter	...	Dean
Bubba Lewis	...	Dorky Kid (Ned's Party)
Chris Valenti	...	Syracuse Scout (1989)
G. Lane Hillman	...	Kevin (1989)
Hope Riley	...	Girl (Wyatt)
Jeanine Jackson	...	Scarlet's Lawyer
Gregory Sporleder	...	Ohio Scout
Keith Oney	...	Guy in Crowd
Leonard Wu	...	Kid (Office)
Liana Blackburn	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Lindsay Taylor	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Danielle E. Hawkins	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Shelby Rabara	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Katrina Norman	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Tiana Brown	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Rhapsody	...	Cheerleader (1989) (as Rhapsody Violetti)
Taisha Monique Clark	...	Cheerleader (1989)
Vanessa Lee Chester	...	Cheerleader (as Vanessa Chester)
Amber Estrada	...	Cheerleader
Chanel Malvar	...	Cheerleader (as Chanel 'Coco' Malvar)
Galen Hooks	...	Cheerleader
Tyne Stecklein	...	Cheerleader
Kiara Nicole Ely	...	Cheerleader (as Kiara Ely)
Mihran Kirakosian	...	Cheerleader
Dres Reid	...	Cheerleader
Terrance Harrison	...	Mascot
Rachele Brooke Smith	...	Hammer Dancer
Christopher Scott	...	Hammer Dancer
Eric McCoy	...	Hammer Dancer
Raymond Chacon	...	Jazz
Megan Galiber	...	Girl #2
Renee Krieg	...	ROTC Leader
Jordan Schatz	...	Mr. Adams
Jaclyn Matfus	...	Party Girl
Justin C. Todd	...	Football Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Bateman	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Michael Bretten	...	Partying Student in Pool (uncredited)
Joshua Carver	...	Hayden Basketball Player #3 (uncredited)
Jason Castle	...	Party Guy (uncredited)
David Cohen	...	Parent of Basket Player (uncredited)
Hugh Douglas	...	Angry Kid at Party (uncredited)
Albert Blake Fernandez	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jesse Heiman	...	Mascot (uncredited)
Brandon G. Holley	...	Party Guy (uncredited)
Benjamin David Howard	...	Basketball Player #42 (uncredited)
Micah J. Jones	...	Basketball Teammate (1989) (uncredited)
Erica LaRose	...	Teen girl (uncredited)
Rashaud Love	...	Hammer Dancer (uncredited)
Darin Maddox	...	Stan's Posse (uncredited)
Paul McGee	...	Basketball Teammate '85 Team (uncredited)
Leo Montiel	...	Football Jock (uncredited)
Lucas Mroczkowski	...	Bowling Alley Party Guy (uncredited)
Alan Mueting	...	School Administrator (uncredited)
Jonathan W.D. Newkerk	...	Student Making Fun of Mike (uncredited)
Kate Ociepka	...	Student in Classroom (uncredited)
Martin Pierron	...	Punk Student (uncredited)
Leonard Jonathan Ruebe	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Sagine	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Justin Sandler	...	Goth Bully (uncredited)
Jacob Saylor	...	Basketball Player (uncredited)
Laura Siegel	...	High School Student (uncredited)
David M. Tran	...	Party Guy (uncredited)
Jobeth Wagner	...	Punk Student (uncredited)
Maria Zambrana	...	Basketball Game Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Burr Steers

Writing credits (WGA)
Jason Filardi		(written by)

Produced by
Jason Barrett	....	executive producer
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Jennifer Gibgot	....	producer
Keith Goldberg	....	executive producer
Mark Kaufman	....	executive producer
Adam Shankman	....	producer
Dara Weintraub	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt

Film Editing by
Padraic McKinley

Casting by
Lisa Beach
Sarah Katzman

Production Design by
Garreth Stover

Art Direction by
Tom Reta

Set Decoration by
Natalie Pope		(as Natali Kendrick Pope)

Costume Design by
Pamela Withers		(as Pamela Withers-Chilton)

Makeup Department
Donna J. Anderson	....	hairdresser
Cheryl Eckert	....	hair stylist
Kim M. Ferry	....	hair stylist
Kimberly Greene	....	makeup department head
Amy Harmon	....	makeup artist
Heather Koontz	....	makeup artist
Marie Larkin	....	key hair stylist
Amy Lederman	....	makeup artist
Edward Morrison	....	hair stylist
Rita Troy	....	additional hair stylist
Erin Wooldridge	....	key makeup artist
Melissa A. Yonkey	....	hair department head

Production Management
Gina Fortunato	....	production supervisor
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Frank Salvino	....	post-production supervisor
Dara Weintraub	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Efrain Cortes	....	additional second assistant director
Peter Dress	....	second second assistant director
Adam Ben Frank	....	additional second second assistant director
Jessica Lowrey	....	second second assistant director
David Mendoza	....	second second assistant director
Lisa M. Rowe	....	second assistant director
Lisa C. Satriano	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Alan Alvarado	....	propmaker
Jeff Barnett	....	assistant property master
Tom Benardello	....	paint foreman
Michael R. Blaich	....	paint supervisor
Chris Brewster	....	set dresser
Allen Brostowicz	....	additional set dresser
Lorrie Campbell	....	set designer
Randy L. Childs	....	propmaker gangboss
Skip Crank	....	props
Monica Fedrick	....	graphic designer
Neil Garland	....	propmaker gangboss
Edward A. Giron	....	labor foreman
Greg Gootsan	....	assistant property master
Darryl Henley	....	storyboard artist
Karen Higgins	....	construction coordinator
Mats Holmberg	....	propmaker
Gary Isbell	....	leadman
Steven Kissick	....	general foreman
Jennifer Moller	....	art department coordinator
Charlie Nicholson	....	on-set dresser (as Charles E. Nicholson)
Roger Prater	....	stand-by greens foreman
Jenny Quam	....	art department assistant
Kim Richey	....	assistant property master
Shane Sankey	....	construction production assistant
Ronald F. Savini Jr.	....	plaster foreman (as Ron Savini)
Fred Seibly	....	signwriter
Michelle Spears	....	property master
Casey Stoll	....	painter
Robert Stover	....	buyer
Brian Tipton	....	shop foreman
Brett Tyler	....	painter
Steven Valenzuela	....	toolman
Jason Vanover	....	master greensman
Liz Wilson	....	additional set dresser
Doug Anderson	....	on-set plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kyle Billingsley	....	foley mixer
Barney Cabral	....	adr editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Sanaa Cannella	....	foley artist
Steve Cantamessa	....	sound mixer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Kaspar Hugentobler	....	re-recording recordist
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue & adr editor
Michael Keller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott La Rue	....	boom operator
Kimaree Long	....	dialogue editor
Cynthia Merrill	....	foley artist
Nick Neutra	....	foley supervisor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Perry Robertson	....	supervising sound editor
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Sanders	....	supervising sound designer
Peter Staubli	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Gary Thomas	....	boom operator
Hugh Waddell	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Zimmerman	....	first assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Donald Myers	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Avery	....	visual effects coordinator
Alison Middaugh Barger	....	digital effects artist: R!ot (as Alison Middaugh)
Andy Barrios	....	sequence supervisor
David Beedon	....	digital effects artist
Kelly Bumbarger	....	digital effects supervisor: Riot
Del DePierro	....	digital integration lead
Mark Edwards	....	visual effects producer: R!OT
Lindsay Hallett	....	visual effects executive producer: R!OT (as Lindsay Burnett)
David Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: R!OT
Chris LeDoux	....	digital compositor: R!OT
Sean Looper	....	pipeline architect: R!OT
Philippe Majdalani	....	digital intermediate assistant producer
Marla Neto	....	visual effects production assistant: R!OT
Hiroyuki Okubo	....	visual effects artist
Michael Ross-Lang	....	digital compositor
Cat Rowe	....	digital colorist assist
Michael Taylor	....	production executive: RIOT
Matt von Brock	....	digital artist
Shane Christopher Wicklund	....	digital compositor: R!OT
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Shuichi Suzuki	....	cg modeler (uncredited)

Stunts
Alina Andrei	....	stunt actor
Dan Bell	....	stunt double: Brian Doyle
Matt Berberi	....	stunts
Austen Brewer	....	stunts
Dan Brown	....	stunt double: Hunter Parrish
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Geo Corvera	....	stunts
Mihai Danciu	....	stunt coordinator
Zack Duhame	....	stunt driver
Kris Edwards	....	stunt driver
Katie Eischen	....	stunt performer
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Jeremy Fry	....	stunt driver
Cody Gill	....	stunt double
Jim Hart	....	stunts (as Jimmy Hart)
Logan Holladay	....	stunt performer
Terry James	....	stunt driver
Craig Jensen	....	utility stunts
Robert Jones	....	utility stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunt double driver
Mandy Kowalski	....	stunts
Jimmy Labrie	....	stunts
Dan McCann	....	stunts
Mark McDaniels	....	stunts
Adam James Miller	....	stunt performer
Kai Nuuhiwa	....	utility stunts
Michael Owen	....	stunt driver
Jeff Podgurski	....	stunt driver
Dennis Scott	....	stunts (as Dennis R. Scott)
Ray Siegle	....	stunt driver
Lincoln Simonds	....	stunt double: Mathew Perry
Jake Swallow	....	stunt performer
Ator Tamras	....	utility stunts
Steve Tartalia	....	stunt double: Mathew Perry
Tyler Vogt	....	stunt performer
Webster P. Whinery Jr.	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Webster Whinery	....	stunt coordinator
Stuart F. Wilson	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Pete Asidilla	....	grip
Matt Bardocz	....	best boy electric
Paul Birk	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Clint Borden	....	best boy grip (as Clint Jack Borden)
Ethan Brannon	....	rigging grip
Robert Castillo Jr.	....	rigging electrician
Eduard Chugunov	....	camera pa
Hector Corona	....	set lighting technician (as Hector J. Corona)
Sean Patrick Crowell	....	key rigging grip
Nathan Crum	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Theda Cunningham	....	first assistant camera (as Theda Streetman)
Michael Duarte	....	grip
Don Duffield	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Michael Enriquez	....	rigging grip
Jonathan Fischer	....	grip
Alex Fleming	....	camera production assistant
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Paul Goodstein	....	key grip
Jeffrey Greeley	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jesse Gregson	....	rigging electrician
Jose H. Huete	....	rigging electrician
Chris W. Johnson	....	Steadicam operator
Chris W. Johnson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
John Koth	....	best boy rigging grip
Paul Lohr	....	rigging electrician
Dwayne Lyon	....	rigging assistant chief lighting technician
W. Ted Mayer	....	rigging grip (as William Ted Mayer)
Paul McIlvaine	....	gaffer
Graham McPherson	....	rigging grip
Alan Morier	....	set lighting technician
Michelle Pizanis	....	camera loader
Steve Rollins	....	set lighting technician
Paul Sanchez	....	additional camera operator
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator
Derek Smith	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Josh Stancil	....	rigger
Calvin Starnes	....	rigging grip
Luke Bird Stern	....	second assistant camera
Al Stewart	....	rigging grip
Jason Young	....	set lighting technician
Thomas Young	....	second assistant camera
Chuck Zlotnick	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Charla Bowersox	....	casting associate
Beth Lipari	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiana Aiello	....	costumer
Alyssa Kim	....	set costumer
Michelle Kurpaska	....	costume supervisor
Marylou Lim	....	set costumer
Ann Miller	....	costumer
Jason M. Moore	....	costumer
Valerie T. O'Brien	....	costumer
Jennifer Starzyk	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Rick J. Brown	....	co-colorist (as Rick Brown)
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Banner Gwin	....	first assistant editor
Jason Joseph	....	first assistant editor
John Potter	....	high definition preview timer
Matthew Woolley	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Richard Bronskill	....	orchestrator
Paul Broucek	....	executive in charge of music: New Line
Stephen Coleman	....	additional orchestrator
Buck Damon	....	music supervisor
Audrey DeRoche	....	score supervisor
Ross DeRoche	....	music preparation
Rolfe Kent	....	conductor
Janet Ketchum	....	orchestra contractor
Padraic McKinley	....	musician
Massimo Ruberto	....	music editor
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Skywalker Symphony Orchestra	....	orchestra
Alistair South	....	music assistant
Nick South	....	music editor
Greg Townley	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Rupert Cole	....	transportation dispatcher
Eric Compton	....	driver
Ken Day	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Dave Haldeman	....	driver
Margo Hunt	....	driver
John Orlebeck	....	transportation coordinator
John Siedenburg	....	transportation
Hector Solano	....	driver
John F. Teeple	....	driver

Other crew
Sam Alvelo	....	additional set production assistant
Jimmy Badstibner	....	assistant: Mr. Shankman (as Jim Badstibner)
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Lucie Bourgeau	....	production secretary
Jody Braun	....	assistant: Mr. Steers
Lisa Breitman	....	adr voice
J.M. Brown	....	assistant production office coordinator
Kris Bunting	....	assistant location manager
Meghan Burchfield	....	additional set production assistant
Christopher Ciketic	....	assistant accountant
Kyle Cooper	....	title sequence: executive producer
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive
Angie Edgar	....	assistant: Mr. Barrett
Ryan Faust	....	additional second assistant accountant
Kristi Frankenheimer	....	location manager
Damiano Fusca	....	production assistant
Megan Galiber	....	accounting assistant
Matthew J. Gannon	....	additional set production assistant
Steve Gehrke	....	script supervisor
Mark Hochman	....	computer/video playback engineer
Galen Hooks	....	choreographer
Jeff Hunt	....	production assistant
Colette Kadrnka-Abramson	....	production attorney
Adam Knapp	....	body double
Sunja Knapp	....	assistant: Mr. Shankman
Kristofer Kolpek	....	set production assistant
John C. Kruize	....	production accountant
Tom Kuljurgis	....	assistant to Ms. Gibgot
Kelly Lane	....	additional set production assistant
Bao-Uy Luu	....	graphic artist: intro
Nathan Maruccio	....	assistant layout board technician
Allison Meadows	....	set production assistant
Aaron Millar	....	location scout
Gunnar Moulton	....	production assistant
Travis Nicols	....	production assistant
Justin Nordin	....	production office assistant
Rodolfo Ornelas	....	production assistant
Scott Parker	....	post-production accountant
Laura Petersen	....	assistant: Mr. Weintraub (as Laura Ushijima)
Ryan Robertson	....	main title producer
John Semedik	....	first assistant accountant
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Michael Shanahan	....	assistant location manager
Ivan Siebel	....	assistant location manager
Michael Simkin	....	assistant: Mr. Steers
Deborah Simmrin	....	unit publicist
Jamal Sims	....	choreographer
Joe Steele	....	production resources
Jeffrey D. Stevens	....	key set medic
M. Ryan Traylor	....	set production assistant
Lisa Vijitchanton	....	production coordinator
Leslie Wahrenbrock	....	payroll accountant
Kelly Wheeler	....	assistant to cast
Rick Whitfield	....	computer/video playback engineer
Josh Wood	....	production executive
Jennifer Yee	....	credits administrator
Travis Quentin Young	....	adr voice
Michael Zamboni	....	key location scout

Thanks
Josh Wood	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema (presents)
• Offspring Entertainment

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Films (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Continental Film (2009) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Forum Cinemas (2009) (Estonia) (theatrical)
• Forum Cinemas (2009) (Latvia) (theatrical)
• Garsu Pasaulio Irasai (2009) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Eagle Pictures (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Magic Box (2009) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (all media)
• Nu Metro Productions (2009) (South Africa) (all media)
• PlayArte Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• RTL Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (all media)
• TriPictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Singapore) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Riot (visual effects)
• Community of Science and Arts Visual Effects (additional visual effects)
• CIS Hollywood (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• EarCandy  sound post-production
• 424  sound re-recording
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chef Robért Catering  catering
• Conway Recording Studios  score mixed at (as Conway Studios)
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Ear Candy Post  post-production sound services
• Electronic Arts (EA)  thanks (as EA Sports)
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Good Grip  grip equipment
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Lucasfilm  thanks
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• Paskal Lighting  lighting
• Post Creations  foley recorded at
• Prologue Films  main and end titles
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Servicevision US  camera dollies
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Skywalker Sound  music recorded at
• Skywalker Symphony Orchestra  music performed by
• Soundtrack  ADR facility

Also Known As:

"Seventeen Again" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, some sexual material and teen partying

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44550) | Australia:PG | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:6 | France:U | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Iceland:L | Norway:7 | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:GP | South Africa:10M | Denmark:A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Malaysia:PG-13 | Brazil:10 (re-rating on appeal) | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

When Ned Gold goes to meet the principal for the second time, he is dressed up flamboyantly and he called it "peacocking". This is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Pick Up Artists.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mike and Ned are sitting in the kitchen, icing their injuries after beating each other up, Mike's wedding band switches hands several times.

Quotes:

Mike O' Donnell:Oh sweet baby Jesus!

Movie Connections:

References A Few Good Men (1992)

Soundtrack:

This is Love

We've all seen this movie before!

I'm starting to suspect that Hollywood no longer uses actual, human screenwriters to create their movies. After watching years of the same, recycled trash, I'm starting to think that they now use a screenplay-writing machine to do it.

This machine works very simply. A producer will enter the main character's name, one problem they are facing, and one 'gimmick' (an unusual plot twist often used as a selling point for the film), and hey presto! - out pops a completed, and entirely unoriginal screenplay. Such is the case for 17 Again.

Mike O'Donnell is a depressed suburban father (sounds familiar already, doesn't it?) whose wife is divorcing him, kids can't stand him, and who just got passed over for a promotion. As the movie progressed, it started to seem very, very familiar - a crippling combination of unoriginal jokes, stereotypical characters and recycled plot devices. My friends and I started to grin and sneeringly guess what was going to happen later in the film, and guess what: most of the time, we were right.

We've all seen this movie before - it's been pieced together from the discarded carcasses of films past, by a flock of vultures seemingly so unaccustomed to originality in film-making that they have been rendered unable to create any plot twist even slightly unexpected or interesting. And don't even get me started on Zac Efron's acting (or lack of such).

Two small good things. Out of the dozens of jokes thrown at us, a select few - maybe five - were genuinely hilarious. Other than that, though, the humor relied on the the faux-improvised, overly-awkward style of comedy popularized by Seth Rogen and co. It doesn't work here. The other highlight, of course, was Matthew Perry. He's the man, and an excellent comic actor, but his short on-screen time was not enough to salvage this unoriginal, unfunny, and worst of all boring attempt at light entertainment. Perhaps if the film had eliminated the dramatic aspects and stuck to being a comedy, it could have succeeded, but this is one movie I certainly would not want to see again.