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'17' is too sweet for its own good
Published online on Sunday, Aug. 09, 2009
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"17 Again" Grade B-: A man (Matthew Perry) gets a second chance at high school when he turns into a teen (Zac Efron).
There are moments that are so sickeningly sweet that any diabetics who opt to see the new Zac Efron film should be warned: Comedy could cause coma. Despite the heavy-handed writing, the film isn't a complete wash.
Alien Trespass" Grade C-: The film doesn't seem to have a target audience. This tongue-in-cheek look at 1950s monster movies isn't campy enough to entertain those who know the source material. And it's not over-the-top enough to entertain those who don't.
This is a Saturday afternoon made-for-cable movie masquerading as a feature film.
Director R.W. Goodwin understands science fiction and fantasy. And the structure of his film shows he's well aware of the slam-bang way monster movies used to be made. What's missing is a sense of humor.
Zac Efron stars as a teenage Mike O’Donnell, a man who gets a second chance at high school in the comedy “17 Again,” also starring Matthew Perry.
It's not enough to make the creature in the film a bad mix of rubber and wire. That's worth a snicker, but not a big laugh. Even loading the movie with stereotypes from the old monster movies -- the scraggly loner, the sheriff in denial, the waitress with spunk -- produces only a smile.
This movie isn't bad. It's just not that good.
"I Love You, Man" Grade C-: Paul Rudd plays a man who realizes he has no male buddies. The production starts with an interesting idea: How do men make friends? It explores that question for about a third of the movie. Then the movie settles into complacency. Jokes are repeated.
The bright spot of the movie is Rashida Jones as the bride-to-be. At least she looks like she is having a good time. That's relief from all of the other performances that seem so forced.
Also new ...
Coming to DVD Tuesday:
"Designing Women: The Complete Second Season": Dixie Carter stars in this former CBS comedy series about four women who run a business together.
"Gigantic": Zooey Deschanel and Paul Dano headline this surreal love story about the anxiety that comes when two people with crazy families unexpectedly collide.
"The Art of War III: Retribution": Agent Neil Shaw is on a covert mission to stop North Korean terrorists.
"90210: The First Season": The new CW Network series offers a 21st century spin on the former Fox series.
"The Wild Man of the Navidad": A small Texas town is terrorized by a strange creature.
TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.
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