17/20
She died during post-production
Line of Events
A lonely boy living in his parents’ nursing home explores his obsession with the afterlife through his friendship with an elderly wizard. Elizabeth Spriggs’ (Prudence) final film. Some think the father’s mustache at the party is a continuity error, as he shaved it off that morning.
He’s not dead
However, it’s a costume party and the father is clearly wearing a fake mustache to match his costume. Edward: [Reading a tombstone] “Samuel Peet. He’s just sleeping.” Clarence: Boy.
The Strange World of Arthur C
He’s going to be so pissed off when he wakes up. Appears in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: 17 Again/State of Play/Grey Gardens/Is Anybody There?/Earth (2009). Clarke Written by Alan Hawkshaw Published by ITV Productions / EMI Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of ITV Productions Ltd.
Plotting a story between an old man and a child should induce narcolepsy
Although Caine takes the plaudits, and he is a good character actor, this works, and can only succeed with Milner, who is very good. He is angry and confused, but once he establishes a friendship with Caine, he changes and the relationship between the two opens up. It is a little predictable, but it works with the actors, the exchange between them is fundamental and in this case it does, as Caine and Milner react to each other, allowing the audience to read their relationship.
There were other stories to tell there and it is lost
The other actors, some respected names, are not used as well as they could have been. The parents are fine, seen through the eyes of the child. The setting and mood are very well evoked: all dusty and damp with the second best of everything.