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17 Again

(2009, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Leslie Mann, Zac Efron, Matthew Perry)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    So-so comedy will amuse young Efron fans more than parents.

Themes in this movie include:   growing up
updated 09.25.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–13

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Characters learn lessons about appreciating family and making smart decisions. But to get there, they navigate some tricky situations (for instance, a high school senior gets his girlfriend pregnant and gives up college to marry her and find a job, leaving him frustrated and resentful).
 

What to watch out for

  • Role models :

    Some students clearly relish bullying others; some girls practically throw themselves at guys (one says a guy doesn't even have to remember her name as long as he sleeps with her), and vice versa. A teen boy binges on junk food.
  • Violence:

    One scene features intense slapping. In another, a grown-up swings a hatchet and light saber against a teen, but the scene is played cartoonishly. Some bullying and brief fistfights.
  • Sex:

    More references than actual sex/action. A teen girl makes out with her boyfriend frequently. In one scene, a teen girl tries to seduce a guy with animal role-play. Conversations sometimes include sexual innuendoes; one guy hoards condoms because he says he has "needs." Discussion of abstinence and why it works (or not) for teens. A teen boy kisses a woman old enough to be his mother. A teenage girl gets pregnant, and her high school boyfriend offers to marry her. Girls throw themselves at a guy, essentially offering sex. Adult couple show in bed together. A boy wearing nothing but a shield (nudity implied) walks out of a party.
  • Language:

    Fairly mild; some use of "ass," "bitch," "dick," "whore," "oh my God," and the like. One "s--t" in a song.
  • Consumerism:

    Products featured in the movie include Captain Crunch, Pringles, Nutella, and Old Milwaukee Beer. Much is made of a character's American Express Black Card.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One scene shows teens drinking (some of them drunk) at a party.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About 17 Again

Parents need to know that they may want to think twice before letting young tween High School Musical fans see this PG-13 rated comedy, which is edgier than most of star Zac Efron's previous work. There's a scene of teens drinking at a party and a fair number of sexual references. It's generally more talk than action, but there's some making out, a teen girl gets pregnant, and one character hoards condoms. But curse words are few and fairly mild ("ass" and "bitch") and violence is at a minimum (of the two "fight" scenes, one is cartoonish, the other lukewarm). Parents may appreciate the fact that Efron's character implores his fellow teens to make so-called "smart" decisions about sexual activity and college.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what this movie teaches teens about the importance of their behavior and decisions, particularly when it comes to things like sex. Are those messages clear amid the comedy? Is it easier to hear those messages from Zac Efron than from parents?
  • Families can also talk about the ongoing popularity of movies about adults revisiting their younger years. Why is that kind of story so appealing?
  • How does this movie compare to others in that genre?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about 17 Again?
  •  I think this movie is

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See all 126 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I loved this movie. it made me laugh and cry. I wouldn't waych it with my parents though. not good for immature tweens. (doesn't spoil...) in one of the scenes, a guy touches the principles hand and says, "i think our hands just made a baby." i died laughing. it has some bad launguage. but it doesn't say the f word. it is really about family. three girls really like zachs character, but they don't really do anything to him. it is a great movie.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Another coming-of-age movie, with an Efron spin.

    When I saw this movie, at first I was surprised that Zac Efron was in it because of the more mature content. There are a lot of sexual references like in the health class. Also, there is an out of control party. Besides that, the movie was a little odd, but good too.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    very funny and amusing but definitely has mild profanity and sexual references. i really discourage families from letting 10 and under watch it.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    My friends and I enjoyed the movie but some scenes were inappropriate for my sister (who is 8). If you are going to see this movie, be careful who you bring.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    VERY funny..innapropriate though.

    I think it was an overall good movie. but definetly not something i would want to sit down and watch with my parents.. theres alot of sexual references throughout and it was funny, but innapropriate.

  6. I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    good funny movie 11 over

    very funny good for family 11 and over

  7. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    This movie I must warn has a lot of grown up talking in it. Therefore, yougsters do not need to watch this movie. This movie is really good for older teenagers.

  8. I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Zac is great!

    I thought this was a cute movie. Zac Efron fans will like it, although the younger fans should beware of some mild language, teen drinking, and sexual references. Overall, this movies was funny and parents shouldn't be afraid to let their children watch it.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    It's okay for tweens

    I think that it is really gross when Zac kisses his friends mom.

  10. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    This was good for kids older than 14 who understand that sex at a young age is wrong

    The movie was good but you could tell that all the language and others that aren't appropriate for kids weren't absolutly needed.

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    great for 10 and up

    parents this is a fine movie i loved it. it's funny there are 6-7 swears and some some sexual behavior but other than that it's fine. nothing i hadn't heard or seen before.

  12. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    If you're the right age, overall a great movie

    17 Again was a great movie, with a great message. it was refreshing and different from other recent movies, with a heartfelt message to go along with it. A guy who resents marrying his wife and giving up college at a young age, is seventeen again and is reminded why he married her, and makes him appreciate his life and he then wants it back. it demonstrates hardships in relationships with the dad and kids, wife and husband, and inner conflict with finding where and who your supposed to be. there were sexual refrences that would be okay for mature 12 year olds, but no younger than that. other than that and mild language, the movie is overall appropriate. i would definitely recommend it.

  13. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great movie for teens

    Loved the movie! It was very funny! Some parts are inappropriate like there is this 1 part where they talk about "making love" during a science class. A lot of brand names. But other than that it is a fun movie about a guy who makes his life right again when he is turned back into a 17 year old.

  14. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Not a movie for tweens, very entertaining though

    Okay, I did enjoy this movie (I'm 43) but took my 11 year old to see it and was horrified. Generally we don't do Pg13, so perhaps I should have done some research beforehand, but it definitely wasn't appropriate for a 5th grader. She and most of her peers have just learned the facts of life, and what a condom is. To have the health teacher handing them out in class by the handful in the movie (?!) was not something I expected. The movie begins with Zac's character (a high school kid) learning his his girlfriend is pregnant. Obviously in the next few years all of these ideas will be thrown at her when she gets to middle school, but I'd like to keep the child in her while I can. The positive messages were there, and I don't have an older child so I'm not really sure what age this WOULD be appropriate for but probably 13 or 14 at the least. At the very least if you see it with a younger child ... have your remote control ready to pause and talk about some of the issues about what your own values are. There are some really good talking points.

  15. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Looks okay for under 10, really just for 13+

    The trailers for this movie make it look little kidish, so when I saw the movie, I was surprised. 40% plus had to revolve around sex, which was a little bit of a shocker for me. also, the bullying had a lot of harsh swears but they were only used once and never again, which was a good thing. Over all, I loved the movie! It had a great story and taught a lesson, which I thought added a little bonus. Also, it was pretty funny and I thought the actor of Ned did a great job. Finally, I also agree with dreweth. Just because Zac Efron is in it and the trailiers look good doesn't mean it's appropriate for them. Grade: B+

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Good movie for aging Zac Efron fans, some awkward parts.

    Funny? Check. Big-name actors? Check. Should you take your "Zac Efron Tweens"? No. Teens should watch it, but please don't take your Elementary school Die-hard HSM fans just because it has Zac Efron in it.

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I thought the whole movie was just fine. There might of been two curse words, but people are overreacting if there thinking a Zac Efron movie is too much for their kids. If parents are concerned, they need to rent it first and see what it is about and then decide if they want their kids to see it. I'm 16 years of age- and to be honest with you... this movie is nothing compared to what kids at school say everyday!

  18. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Less Then Ok

  19. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Less Then Ok

  20. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    Oh Just Go See It Already...

    It's cute. Pretty tame compared to what actually goes on in most high schools. This movie actually made me like Zac Efron.

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