15 Terrible Movies That Actually Improve Good Ones
3. 17 Again Improves Big
The Bad
Ludicrously, 17 Again is the film that notoriously tries to convince us that Matthew Perry used to look like Zac Efron.
It's basically reverse Big and Zac Efron plays basketball again before realising something about being Matthew Perry is good and so grows up again, or something. To be brutally honest the film is difficult to concentrate on given how idiotic the whole Efron to Perry thing is.
How It Improves Big
There is a similar film though that grabs your concentration by the scruff and as a result you fall in love with a film and an actor all at the same time. Tom Hanks in Big is endearing in all the ways that Zac Efron in 17 Again is not. Sure, it's easier to be endearing as a kid in an adult's body rather than the other way around, but Big nailed the concept so solidly that trying to reverse it was an incredibly misguided move.
The lesson in Big is clear, don't try to wish away your childhood because adulthood is kind of terrible and it is doubtful there is an adult that would disagree with that. 17 Again tries to teach us to appreciate what we've got or something, don't worry too much because you will be asleep before it gets to that part.
Ironically the lesson from 17 Again is never more applicable than here, appreciate what we've already got and what we've already got is Big.