About A Boy
Release Date: May 17, 2001
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Screenwriter: Peter Hedges
Starring: Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult,
Annabelle Apsion, Isabel Brook
Genre: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for brief strong language and some thematic elements)
Official Website:
About-a-Boy.com
Plot Summary: Based on Nick Hornby’s popular British novel, "About a Boy" is
a comedy-drama starring Hugh Grant as Will a rich, child-free and irresponsible
Londoner in his thirties who, in search of available women, invents an imaginary
son and starts attending single parent meetings. As a result of one of his
liaisons, he meets Marcus, an odd 12-year-old boy with problems at school.
Gradually, Will and Marcus become friends, and as Will teaches Marcus how to be
a cool kid, Marcus helps Will to finally grow up.
Review by
Peter Veugelaers © 2002
- Words escape me ... ecstasy
If the screen version of About A Boy is anything to
go by then Nick Hornby’s novel, from which this comedy is
based, is wittily observant.
Males and their apparent preoccupation with the opposite sex
and their tendency for creature comforts provide Hugh Grant
a role that he tackles superbly.
Set in London, Will (Hugh Grant) lives the high life of the
solitary single male. He lives off the royalties of his
father’s one-hit wonder Christmas tune. When he discovers
that single mothers are the epitome of a male’s fantasy, the
film’s basic joke, he joins a single parent’s group for one
reason: to pick up solo mothers.
He succeeds in dating Suzie (Victoria Smurfit) who invites
one of her friends’ sons on a date as his mother suffers
from depression. Sensitive and bullied pre-adolescent boy
Marcus (Nicholas Hoult) immediately dislikes Will and the
feeling is mutual. After the hazy picnic they drop Marcus
off at his home and find that his mother, Fiona (Toni
Collette), has tried to commit suicide by overdosing on
drugs.
Despite Will’s insistence on not letting people into his
world, young Marcus thinks that if Will is involved in the
life of his mother, then that will add support for both of
them.
Directors Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie) create
a marked contrast to their earlier teen sex romp. They move
into another kind of movie: a sensitive, engaging and
lightweight comedy that has feeling, emotion and intellect
behind it. Grant is comic and light, and first-rate at being
offbeat. He is likeable, but in this outing, as opposed to
his character in Bridget Jones’ Diary, his
character’s heart and depth are noticeably developed. A real
find is newcomer Nicholas Hoult who is impressive in a role
that he makes real with pubescent angst.
About A Boy is a beautiful representation of the
young adolescent boy growing up in a world without father
figures or extended family, and his older solitary friend
who melts emotionally while integrating into a de-facto
family. Its serious side is that it makes an important
observation about societal dislocation. The film emphasizes
the necessity of friendship and family, and the significance
of individuals, in a world confronted by lonely dysfunction.
Review by
Blake French © 2004
- Words escape me ... ecstasy
As I watched About a Boy, a romantic comedy from the makers of Bridget
Jones’s Diary, I wanted to hug myself and everyone around me. A charming,
heartwarming masterpiece of clever humor and insightful drama, the film landed a
smile on my face and it lasted all night.
Combining heart, soul, and sharp humor, brothers
Chris and Paul Weitz have matured since their American Pie days.
This film contains no naked foreign exchange students or immature
sex with fruit pies. It’s simply the most irresistible romantic
comedy of the year.
Based on the novel by Nick Hornby (High
Fidelity), About a Boy follows Will (Hugh Grant), a
wealthy bachelor living off inheritance money and his charisma
with ladies. Unfortunately, the fact that he "does
nothing" for a living turns many women off, thus he joins a
single parent’s support group, inventing a fictional son to
hopefully earn a woman’s affection.
The plan backfires when geeky 12-year old Marcus (Nihloas
Hoult) meets Will through the support group. His depressed mother
(Toni Collette) recently attempted suicide, therefore Marcus
believes she needs a reliable person to watch her through the day
when he is at school. Therefore, he develops a plan to hook his
mother up with Will. Along the way, it is Marcus and Will who
become unlikely friends.
Often quite bleak, the story develops subplots
dealing with suicide, jealousy, and anxiety. However, the
directing team’s humor shines a bright glow on even the darkest
themes. They also permeate the film with bizarre camera angles
that add to the character’s sense of discovery and a soundtrack
full of boyish folksy rock, giving the movie a different flavor
from typical Hollywood romantic fluff.
Universal has guts releasing About a Boy
during the same weekend as the latest Star Wars
installment. Although the film offers great escape from comic book
flicks and science fiction, I fear audiences will concern
themselves with Star Wars or Spider-Man these next
few weeks. Hopefully, when the fantasy buzz calms down, About a
Boy will find its niche.
We would love to know what you think, sound off on the
movie message boards and let us know how you liked the movie!
