May 2002 Seventeen Again

(May: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Gallery * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive

by Chrissy Seventeen Again Most of us have grown up feeling as though we know the Mowry family as well as our own. Through Sister-Sister we bonded with Tia, the serious, studious twin and her carefree sister Tamera. We've also grown quite fond of their little brother, Tahj, (better known to us Smart Guy fans as the ten year old genius, T.J. Henderson). Lately though, our only glimpse of the Mowry's have been in reruns and through Tahj's recent roles in Disney Channel movies. So, as any hard-core Mowry fan can imagine, I was psyched to find that fairly new Mowry material was as close to me as the nearest video store, in the form of "Seventeen Again," a movie about dealing with change and catching up on lost time. In the movie, Willy is a middle school science genius (sound familiar…?) who accidentally contaminates bars of soap with a formula capable of reversing the aging process. One of these bars ends up in the bathroom shared by his divorced and constantly fighting grandparents… and then the REAL drama begins. Kat and Eugene (the grandparents) find themselves suddenly seventeen again and have to deal with their new (old?) selves while constantly at each other's throats. Sydney, Willy's older sister is attempting to cope with the small town they have just moved to after living in LA all her life. Of course there is also typical teen drama in the form of dealing with the snobby head cheerleader at school. Grandparents who are her age is the LAST problem she needs…especially when it looks like she is going to have to compete with her grandmother for the affections of the guy she has begun to like. Eventually, Gene and Kat deal with the problem that has been the cause of their ruined marriage for twenty years (he accepted a job in Australia) and realize that the only people they can ever love is each other. Sydney gets her guy and Willy gets to save the day when he creates the antidote that will return his grandparents to their senior selves. The plot is pretty predictable throughout the movie but the great chemistry of the cast and the comic relief written in to counteract the sentimental moments makes up for it. The swing dance choreography is also amazing and there's a quick cameo from Boys II Men as well. Even though the Mowrys star (Tia and Tamera play Sydney and Kat... not sisters which is pretty cool and Tahj picks up as Willy) this movie wouldn't be the great family film (g-rated) that it is without the amazingly talented cast. Hope Clarke and Robert Hooks are great as the older version of the grandparents, with realistic arguments and undeniable affection passing between them during every scene together, Tamera Mowry portrays a grandmother from the forties with an ease and grace that keeps the audience smiling. Tia does a good job, with a role reminiscent of Sister Sister , as the teenager trying to cope with life. Soap opera fans will be glad to see Tonya Lee Williams in her role as Monique (Sydney's stepmom), a lighthearted change from the dramatic roles we are accustomed to seeing her in. Mark Taylor plays Young Gene, a fiiiiine (with emphasis on the FINE) brother who kept me glued to his every move from the first shot of him. He also does a great job portraying a member of a different generation, though this success is helped by his naturally deep voice and the fact that he looks good in the attire of a gentleman from the forties (I never thought a fedora could look THAT good!!). Other faces in the movie are Maia Campbell, (best known for her role on In The House) who plays the snobby cheerleader and Daryn Jones, Sydney's love interest. This movie is a great one to watch with the whole family because everyone can relate to it, and it's funny without being corny. I did wonder why seventeen year-olds were out clubbing' (isn't it 18 to party, 21 to drink?) in a ritzy place like the Orange Room. But the quick music-video style camera action soon caught me up and I forgot about it, just wishing I could step into the scene. If you like complex plot structure and deep action, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you're just looking for something you can watch with your parents in the room and not be bored to death, or you need some light-hearted Mowry-style fun, this movie is for you. And after seeing it, not only do I have a new appreciation for the older generation but also I am DEFINITELY taking up swing dancing and looking forward to the days when I can wish I was "Seventeen Again."