What Is The Film "17 Again" About?

“17 Again” was released in April 2009. The story centres around a 37 year old man named Michael O' Donnell. Twenty years earlier, Michael, at the age of seventeen, was an athlete who had everything going for him. Right before a game, Scarlett, Michael's girlfriend, tells him that she is pregnant. He makes the decision to give up his college scholarship and basketball and decides to marry her.

Now, at 37, Michael is unhappy. His marriage to Scarlett has fallen apart and he is stuck in a dead end job. His relationship with his two children, Alex and Maggie, is also suffering.  Michael begins to regret the decisions he made twenty years ago and visits his old school to think about the things he gave up. Whilst there, he meets a janitor. After his encounter with the mysterious man, he is transformed back into his seventeen year old self.

Michael realises that he has been given another chance at life. He enrols at high school again and encounters Maggie and Alex. Maggie is dating Stan, the basketball captain. Stan bullies Alex and Michael, realising that he must help his children, befriends Alex. He uses a different name (Mark instead of Mike) and helps Alex to join the basketball team and takes care of Maggie when Stan dumps her.

Michael's millionaire friend Ned becomes attracted to the headmistress and the two go back to his house, only to discover that Mike is throwing a party to celebrate Alex's success in the basketball game. Mike becomes attracted to Scarlett again, but she rejects him when he tries to kiss her. Maggie and her friends are disgusted at what they see, especially since Mike is now much younger than Scarlett.

Things come to a head at the championship game when Scarlett realises that “Mark” is in fact Mike. She leaves and he goes after her, but is changed back into his adult self by the janitor before he reaches her. They patch up their relationship and Mike realises that he is happy with his family.