Zac Efron is starring in the upcoming 17 Again, a movie where a 36-year old Matthew Perry realizes he hates his life and gets the do-over of a lifetime to become (dun dun dunnnn) 17 Again. The movie co-stars Thomas Lennon and Leslie Mann, trailer looks OK, whatever, whatever. What strikes me is the gratuitous use of Zac Efron basketball footage in the trailer. Observe:
Is this a special skill that his agents tell him to JUST KEEP MILKING?
Zac Efron honed his basketball skills in the HSM franchise. I’m assuming he’s ok at basketball, and on-camera basketball is probably like on-camera eating. You fake it, sorta. You do the “bite and smile” as they say for eating on-camera, so it’s no wonder he’s a master of the “layup and give-an-intesnse-look-and-pearly-white-flash”. But are his high school basketball acting skills really the thing selling EVERY MOVIE HE IS IN? Won’t people go for his perfect android-like bone structure and charming good looks?
Or do they really just wanna see him score a layup off a fastbreak, rush to the end of the court, clap intensely, and pump up the team? It’s like there’s a hollywood executive that watched this new movie and said, “Wait a second…we’ve got Efron in a high school in this new movie and we need it to sell. We’d be FOOLS not to throw some basketball footage in there. Up the budget and book a gym for another shoot day. We’re filming some classic Efron b-ball footage tomorrow. Matthew Perry, take the day off and rest…unless you wanna hang around here and some hot Efron b-ball action!!!”
All this must be leading up to Efron’s breakout role as a serious dramatic actor in Basketball Diaries II: All About The Game.
UPDATE: Here’s an extended cut behind the scenes trailer that is loaded with more Efron basketball footage. I can’t wait for the DVD to come out with an extra Efron b-ball featurette.
