What’s a Zac Efron?

“WHO SAYS YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE?”

PLAYERS: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg

COACH: Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down, single episodes of The L Word and Weeds)

STYLE: Comedy / Body-switching silliness

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “I’d shake your hand but my hand’s kind of tied to my ass.”

Ok, I have to admit, I’ve heard of the guy but have not seen one bit of his schtick. I pretty sure he’s associated with some teen network, but these days, everyone’s linked to everyone else in Hollywood so I’m sure doing a Six Degrees to Zac Efron challenge wouldn’t be too hard. When I first saw the trailer, I quickly booger-flicked it away into the same pit as previous body-switching films such as Vice Versa, Freaky Friday (the remake), and The Hot Chick. For me, Big starring Tom Hanks is the cream of the crop. But all of the reviews I read were positive so I decided to give it a whirl. Now I was coming home from multiple flu shots so I hope I wasn’t too delirious while watching this, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying it as my room resonated with the sound of my own little chuckles.

The film’s main character is Mike O’Donnell, played by both Matthew Perry and Efron. Perry plays the adult O’Donnell going through a divorce with two kids who gets a chance to relive high school albeit in the present. Efron plays the teen version of O’Donnell and his performance was…not bad. We all know Perry best as Chandler from Friends, so we’re well aware of the “Chandler-isms” he gives in almost every role he plays. This is where I credit Efron because in short, he played a great Matthew Perry. When a character is split between two actors, the transition has to be seamless. Efron did a credible performance. In most body-switch movies, the specimen’s personality transformation is usually from nerd to stud. This one stays in the stud realm. The film also stays afloat with its various subplots. O’Donnell’s role from father to friend to his kids, keeping his morals in check, batting away the babes while figuring out how to win his wife back, and having to rely on his wealthy/geeky younger brother who develops an enormous crush on the high school principal.

Overall, good old fashioned 80′s popcorn treat for the new millenium. Now I can relax knowing what a Zac Efron is. Although speaking of Six Degrees, I heard he’s playing Kevin Bacon’s role in a remake of Footloose. All I have to say to that is OMG don’t make me LOL!

$ VALUE: $$$$

RATING LEGEND:

$$$$$ – “You’re so money, you don’t even know it.”

$$$$ – “Worth every penny.”

$$$ – “Fair price.”

$$ – “I’m not made of money.”

$ – “A fool and his money are soon parted.”