I saw the Zac Efron movie, 17 Again last weekend. No, I was not on a date with for a different kind of girl. Middle Child convinced me that we should go see it. First, she asked that I take her to see Les Mis at the high school. As much as I like to support our high school students, I didn't think I could sit through a musical production of the French revolution. And considering how much Middle Child hates history, I didn't think she'd enjoy it much either. That's when I said, "How about we see a movie?" And I let the chips fall where they may.
The premise of the movie is a boy who gets his girlfriend pregnant his senior year and marries her instead of taking a basketball scholarship and going to college. Boy grows up to resent his wife and is a crappy excuse of a husband and father. Wife asks for a divorce. Boy gets a chance to be 17 again in his present day high school and become friends with his own kids. By the end of the movie, his wife falls in love with him again and they reunite. Yes, a tired out theme, to say the least. But see that 1980's style Zac Efron front and center? That, my friends, is the pretty boy look I went crazy for back in the day. I sat there and relived my glory days of watching my high school crushes take our high school basketball team to district finals. All that was missing was hearing Celebration by Kool & the Gang once again.
After the movie, Middle Child got to choose where she wanted to go have dinner. We went to Applebee's and waited for a table. Beside us on the waiting area bench was an older couple. From a nearby table, a tall 20-something young man came up to the older man and began shaking his hand and asking, "Mr. X, do you remember me?" Mr. X was this young man's former high school teacher. They exchanged pleasantries and Mr. X asked how young man's parents were. There was an awkward pause, and then he said, "Not so good........they are separated." Mr. X asks young man what he's doing and he says "working on and off.....it's tough out there right now." Young man asks Mr. X what his own son is doing and Mr. X says he's at Slippery Rock College. That's when young man laments and says, "I should have gone to college......." It was a painful conversation to overhear. All that was missing was a wife and two kids, pulling on the young man's arm.
First, Les Mis isn't about the French Revolution; it's set against the backdrop of a student uprising of 1838. But it's really a pretty touching story around the theme of 'The Meaning of Love'. . . And the musical has some really good music in it. I don't really mean to rag on you over it; but if you're laboring on a misconception of what it's about, perhpas you'd re-evaluate. . .
ReplyDeleteI have just gotten in touch with a couple of my favorite teachers from 'back in the day', and it was really cool. And a little odd, at the same time - I'm now considerably older than they were when they taught me; but in my mind, I'm always 14 to their 'grown-up-ness', relative to them. In one case, my daughter is the age my teacher was when she taught me. . .
Honestly, I'd have totally gone on this kind of date with you!
ReplyDelete(and I'm with you. French Revolution or not, I don't think I want my first experience of seeing a stage production of Les Mis to be that of a high school theater troupe)(also, you can't eat popcorn in that set up, so, not as much fun!)
Des - Apparently, Google was not my friend. When I looked it up, it said the theme was "death" with a backdrop of the French Revolution. It didn't sound like my cup of latte, and neither does your description either, so it's good that we didn't go.
ReplyDeleteFADKOG - I thought of you and how much you'd have willingly come along for some Zac madness. Have you seen it yet?
I'm probably going to be roped into this movie myself.
ReplyDeleteGreat lesson for any kid to learn. College is where you need to strive for....
Just this week I re-connected with my favorite teacher from boarding school, and we are looking at me visting him and his wife next spring in France.
ReplyDeleteoh my, that does sound like a sad conversation to overhear. glad you and middle child enjoyed some time together though. :)
ReplyDeleteMike - The movie was watchable. I didn't even have to check my watch (and those who know me, know I have trouble sitting through movies).
ReplyDeleteCitizen - Oh la la! We look forward to good bloggy pictures from that trip.
Lime - It really was sad. I felt like piping in that young man still had plenty of time for college, but it was really not my business nor conversation!
Boy, that Zac Efron is all OVER the place lately ... talk about over-exposure! lol
ReplyDeleteInteresting conversation you overheard .... and yes, painful to be reminded how 'regrets' start to appear as some people age.
Thought-provoking post, Cocotte. Thx. =)
LB - Sooooo - what do you think of the long haired 80's style Zac??
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