I wondered in the movie if a person who read the book in advance would enjoy the surprises as much as one who didn't, like me. The movie is intelligent, humorous, surprising, engrossing and fun.
Only a few plot point quibbles. I think the timing of certain events dove-tailed too exactly. I also felt they shouldn't have considered bending the rules on choosing the Pope, as much as they seemed to be doing.
Zac Efron seems to be fine as an actor. He seems to be attractive to those in the theater. Not many men in there. So, when you are transported to a younger age, how do you return? This burning question hasn't been answered fully by the movie "Big" or "13 going on 30. It was, however, fun seeing this treatment. I liked it when he realized he needed to help his kids and get closer to them, rather than "win the big game" I might recommend this movie to my friend’s kids, but my friends are too old to enjoy this picture. Maybe their wives would like it. I went because of Matthew Perry. Sadly, he wasn't in it as much as I'd have liked. It was ok, though, because I just imagined that Matthew Perry was supposed to be Zac Efron the whole time.