17 Again *1/2

Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg, Hunter Parrish, Melora Hardin
Director: Burr Steers
Running Length: 1:42
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In 1989, Mike O’Donnell (Efron) is the star of the basketball team. He is one game from getting a big scholarship. Before the game, he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. Determined to make the right decision, he skips the game and declares that his future is spending the rest of his life with her and raising their child. In 2007, Mike (Perry) is sick of his life, and Scarlett (Mann) is divorcing him. His kids don’t like him either. One day, a mysterious janitor at the school offers him a chance to do it all over again. He eagerly accepts, and the next day wakes up in a 17 year old body.

“17 Again” is nothing new. In fact, it has been done better many times before. This is clearly a starring vehicle for Efron, who is moderately charming and successful in the role. The story could have been written better, but seems dumbed down for the younger audience that would come to see Efron on film. I really cannot recommend this film.

Drillbit Taylor ***
Cast: Owen Wilson, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann, Valerie Tian
Director: Steven Brill
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Wade (Hartley), Ryan (Gentile), and Emmitt (Dorfman) are three nerdy kids in need of protection. School bully Filkins (Frost) has decided to make their lives a living hell. After about a week of dealing with this, they decide to hire a bodyguard. Constrained by money, they opt for Drillbit Taylor (Wilson), an ex-military man who is currently homeless and trying to make enough money to get to Canada. Drillbit is less than impressive though, and has to come up with a plan quickly if he wants to help the kids and himself as well.

“Drillbit Taylor” fits the mold of the Judd Apatow-produced films, albeit in PG-13 form. Think of it as Judd Apatow-light, and that is fine because he knows what makes good movies. Sweetness, likeable characters, and raunchy comedy make up the mix, and for “Drillbit Taylor”, the raunchiness is toned back to give it a PG-13 rating. Wilson is very good as Drillbit, a con-man of sorts that really isn’t that good at things. “Drillbit Taylor” is an amusing addition to the Apatow family of films.