17 Again

I was on the way home from Boston. We were disappointed that American Airlines had no seat back televisions, again. The children decided it was the recession. I decided to watch 17 Again, eventhough I knew I would hate it. I loved it. I laughed. I cried. Yes, it had some elements of a cutesy teen film but the true audience for this film is forty somethings. My 9 year old hated it, which was a good sign. If she wanted to go back to her youth, looking to right wrongs, she would be drinking from bottles and pooing in nappies.
What this film ended up being about is being happy with what you have and valuing what is most important. The Zac Ephron character who transforms from a forty year old to a teenager notices how cruel high school students are to each other. How many girls lack self respect. It was touching to see him guide his children, whom he befriends in a differents way. He takes on the bully, knowing that for many bullies, things go downhill from high school.
This is not an important film but it did make me go home and look at my husband again. It made me think back to the couple we were when we were first in love and could do no wrong. It made me want to give him a break when he is doing something annoying and to show him how delighted I am that we made that great decision in 1992 to spend the rest of our lives together.

Comments

[erich schlaikjer]

I also watched it on the way back from the US, because of your blog. I enjoyed it. A good film has the same effect as a good lover; as the Jack Nicholson character says in "As Good As It Gets": "You make me want to be a better man."

But what really made me *laugh* was the moment the principal spoke Elvish. Heads turned on the plane. But perhaps you need to be a LOTR geek.