Snouting About...an opinion on everything by Jill Cahr

17 Again: A Must-See Life Lesson For Kids

Jill — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:28:43 +0000

Today, my 10 year-old and I watched 17 Again, the amusing movie where an enchanted Zach Efron is given the chance to revisit high school with his adult sensibilities. Zach saves his marriage and assists his pubescent kids.

The real beauty of the movie is the crucial life lesson it teaches: if you knock up your girlfriend in high school, (as Zach did) your life is destroyed (as Zach’s was).

Zach spent his entire adulthood yearning for a life where he didn’t throw it all away on a quickie. Zach gave up a college scholarship and education to marry his pregnant girlfriend only to find his adult self passed over for a promotion and without a job while the midst of a divorce.

Aside from the distracting Harry Potter timing error, the movie is amusing. In Zach Efron’s original 1989 high school experience, his nerdy best friend is a Harry Potter fan and a hippogriff joke ensues. Oops, the first Harry Potter novel was published in the UK in 1997 and not available in the US until 1998. Moreover, we first meet Buckbeak the hippogriff in the Prizoner of Azkaban, published in 2001.

Ned’s landspeeder bed, however, almost makes up for the error.

Nerd alert aside, the movie makes plain what I have been saying to my son in various forms for the last 10 years: don’t have sex until you’re married…or at least use a condom. But the later part of lesson that will have to wait until he’s a bit older.

Aging Parents

Jill — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:49:51 +0000

When you’re in your mid-40s,the responsibility for the health and welfare of our parents starts transferring to us, the children. I’ve seen several of my friends called to duty recently and it starts the mind wandering. I find myself talking to my parents more often, just in case. Moreover, for the first time, I’m focused on mortality: mine, my family’s, my friends’, my dog’s…everyone’s. Alas, it’s much easier to be young and fancy-free.

Big Love is Big Entertainment

Jill — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:15:15 +0000

Each episode finds me with the same dilemma, I fear to watch but cannot turn away. The acting and writing is first-rate, but I wonder how much of the story is based on the truth. It’s probably far too accurate for my taste. Utah has great skiing, the Red Iguana, our favorite Mexican restaurant, and a lot of people living a stifled lifestyle, which is fine (I suppose) as long as it’s by free choice. Is it?

The Marriage Ref

Jill — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:36:03 +0000

My call: Axe the show before anyone loses a career. While watching the show, I shuddered as I realized that Idiocracy is closer to fact, not fiction. I really didn’t think it was possible to dumb-down network TV any further.

Hello world…it’s me Jill

Jill — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:26:41 +0000

Since everyone in my house says I have an opinion on everything and I’m now a published author, I figured I better share. And, what better place to do that but on the Internet. So, I’ll post my observations with you from time to time. Enjoy!

-Jill