TheWayYouMakeMeFeel
03-16-2009, 07:28 PM
IT'S been but a few months since Hollywood pin-up sensation Zac Efron previously visited Melbourne. In November, Efron jetted in with co-stars Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale as part of the publicity blitz for High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
With his tween-pleasing smile and stylishly foppy fringe still very much in place, Efron was back in town yesterday. Only this time it was all about him.
Efron was in Melbourne to attend the premiere of his new film, 17 Again, the latest in a long line of age-reversal comedies. In it a 37-year-old man with family trouble suddenly finds himself 20 years younger. Pratfalls ensue.
At 21, Efron said the film had a lot to teach him about the realities of middle age.
"I just have more respect now," he said. "There's so much you have to deal with in terms of family and there was so much in this character that I hadn't experienced in life.
"With a high school character I had experienced most of what I was playing, but I'd never picked my kids up from school or been proud of my son for winning his basketball game — or been hit on by my own daughter!"
The film was a chance for Efron to move away from his wholesome High School Musical image. He owes his career to those films, he said, however, "it was a very comfortable place to be. There wasn't a whole lot of work that had to be done mentally. That's not to say it wasn't fun, but I was definitely looking for a new challenge and a new place to go."
17 Again is replete with references to Star Wars and required Efron to take part in a light-sabre duel, which he said he approached respectfully. Training for it was chiefly a matter of studying the films intensely.
"I was already a huge fan," Efron said. "I've always wanted to do a light-sabre fight, but what opportunity in life am I ever going to actually have to fight on screen with a light-sabre?"
And he is proud of his work.
"Don't mess with me when I have my light-sabre," he warns.
17 Again opens on April 9.
Don't mess with me when I have my light-sabre << that part made me laugh.
With his tween-pleasing smile and stylishly foppy fringe still very much in place, Efron was back in town yesterday. Only this time it was all about him.
Efron was in Melbourne to attend the premiere of his new film, 17 Again, the latest in a long line of age-reversal comedies. In it a 37-year-old man with family trouble suddenly finds himself 20 years younger. Pratfalls ensue.
At 21, Efron said the film had a lot to teach him about the realities of middle age.
"I just have more respect now," he said. "There's so much you have to deal with in terms of family and there was so much in this character that I hadn't experienced in life.
"With a high school character I had experienced most of what I was playing, but I'd never picked my kids up from school or been proud of my son for winning his basketball game — or been hit on by my own daughter!"
The film was a chance for Efron to move away from his wholesome High School Musical image. He owes his career to those films, he said, however, "it was a very comfortable place to be. There wasn't a whole lot of work that had to be done mentally. That's not to say it wasn't fun, but I was definitely looking for a new challenge and a new place to go."
17 Again is replete with references to Star Wars and required Efron to take part in a light-sabre duel, which he said he approached respectfully. Training for it was chiefly a matter of studying the films intensely.
"I was already a huge fan," Efron said. "I've always wanted to do a light-sabre fight, but what opportunity in life am I ever going to actually have to fight on screen with a light-sabre?"
And he is proud of his work.
"Don't mess with me when I have my light-sabre," he warns.
17 Again opens on April 9.
Don't mess with me when I have my light-sabre << that part made me laugh.