"Be careful what you wish for... it just might come true!"
What would you become if your soul was taken over by that of your 81 year old grandfather? David Watson is about to find out!
David (Charlie Schlatter) is an 18 year old fraternity pledge who isn't too popular with the rest of his frat house. Constantly pushed around by track champ Russ Deacon and a few other frat brothers, school is more than a drag.
Where girls are concerned, David has an eye for fellow history student Robin (Jennifer Runyon), who also happens to be the girlfriend of big-time jerk Russ. As you can imagine, Robin is pretty much off-limits to David, and, lacking in confidence, he would rather continue writing the frat brothers' term papers and watching Robin from a distance than getting on the wrong side of the entire frat house.
Enter Jack Watson (George Burns). High-flying businessman and hit with the ladies, about to turn 81. What could a guy with everything possibly wish for over the candles of his Birthday cake? None other than to rekindle the days of his youth, and reverse his age!
Inviting grandson David out for a bite to eat after the party, Jack passes on a bit of his wisdom in the love department, and the two indulge in a cigar session. But the car journey home turns into a disaster when the smooth talking grandfather swerves off the road, smashing through a shop window, leaving both him and David unconscious.
Awakening in the hospital, Jack curses, wishing he could undo the tragic accident. But it isn't until he gets a glimpse of his reflection that he realises the whole incident has actually turned into a meaningful and life-changing experience.. He wakes up in David's body! With the car accident triggering a soul-transference between grandfather and grandson, David is unconscious within the body of his grandfather, whilst the wisecracking Jack is sent off back to school, having to live David's life for him!
It isn't long before Jack realises that the once-respectable Watson name isn't exactly living up to standards, experiencing first-hand the unbrotherly love between David and the frat brothers. Determined to alter David's reputation for good, and show Russ he means business, Jack ends up making quite a name for his grandson. But can he win the heart of the beautiful Robin in the process?
VERDICT: ★★★ ½
Of the wave of body-swap movies that came out around the time of Big, 18 Again is one of the better of the bunch. It is filled with comedy and laugh-out-loud lines. Charlie Schlatter does a fantastic job as an 81 year old trapped in the body of a teenager, and makes a really likable character. You find yourself rooting for him practically from the beginning of the movie.
18 Again is an excellently feel-good teen flick, and a topnotch effort from New World Pictures. Of course, the movie doesn't promise to be cliche-free, but the laughs and smiles it brings makes up for it. George Burns and his hilarious narration throughout the hour and a half is guaranteed to make you wish for a grandfather as cool as Jack Watson.
You'll be left smiling ear-to-ear.
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SOUNDTRACK:
1. I Wish I Was 18 Again - George Burns
2. You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) - The Dickies
3. She's A Hunchback - The Dickies
4. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon - Written by Gus Edwards & Edward Madden
