Rating: 
Summary: Hugh Grant's Best
Review: I rented this after listening to the producers on NPR. I found this movie very engaging on several levels. It is funny, touching and insightful. IT IS NOT A CHICK FLICK! Hugh Grant shows a great deal of range and depth in his performance. ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Film
Review: I skipped seeing this film when it was in theaters. Though I had a bit of interest in seeing it becasue it was based on the novel by Nick Hornby, I was afraid that the dircetors of American Pie were going to screw it all up. Well, when it finally arrived on DVD i rented it, and was very glad I did, because About A Boy is a wonderful film.
It is funny, moving, and Hugh Grant fits his part perfectly.
On the whole, I wouldn't say it is on par with High Fidelity with John Cusak, the other film based on Hornby's work, but it is very entertaining nonetheless.
Be sure to check out the soundtrack as well, performed by Badly Drawn Boy. Also check out his new album "Have You Fed the Fish?".
Rating: 
Summary: Chic Flic!
Review: I personally didn't like this movie. Although it had its moments (when it made me chuckle) it really couldn't keep my attention. Thankfully this was my girlfriend's rental and I was able to do something more interesting while it was on such as paying my bills. Next time I'll pick the movie!
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie - [poor] DVD Cover and Extras...
Review: Good god, what is wrong with American Movie studios? About A Boy has got to be one of the worst DVD covers I have ever seen. Not only has the movie logo been destroyed and placed horizontally, but do we have to have giant quotes all over the front of the box? Isn't that normally reserved for the back? I understand that in this day and age of over-marketing, any chance you get to get someone to buy your product is more important than the integrity of the product. And that is why giant quotes and huge, uneccessary type adorns most DVD and music releases. But why can't that be placed on the back of the package or on a sticker. I don't want to look at that cover everytime I reach for the DVD to play it. Maybe they thought I needed to be reminded how hilarious the movie is, even though I've purchased it and plan to watch it again and again. I guess it is a good reminder...
Rating:
Summary: Hands down, the best movie of 2002!
Review: It's interesting juxtaposing this movie with the one that came out the day before it, "Attack of the Clones." While "Clones" was getting massacred by the critics (rightfully so) for its trite dialogue and 2nd grade acting, this baby was charming the pants off anyone who saw it. "Clones" probably made 3 times what this one made, proving once again that there's no justice in the world. Though I saw both movies, it's "About a Boy" that will continue to charm those who get the DVD. My definition of great comedy is being able to watch a scene over and over and still laugh like a loon, even though you know the joke is coming. By that definition, "About a Boy" is a smashing success and proof that not all summer movie releases are driven by special effects, rather than story. By the way, the extras on the DVD are stellar, from the Badly Drawn Boy video to the "English to English" translation.
Rating:
Summary: DVD Warning
Review: The DVD advertises "hilarious deleted scenes." Little does the buyer know that these "deleted scenes" are actually scenes that were included in the original theatrical release back in May 2002, only to be cut for the DVD version of the movie, and then added to the DVD's "deleted scenes" section. Indeed, the number of scenes deleted from the original theatrical release is quite extensive. What a terrible way to screw up an otherwise great movie. Universal should be ashamed.
Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT!
Review: This was the best film of 2002. The performances from Hugh Grant to Nicholas Hoult to Toni Collette to Rachel Weisz are excellent. Grant and Collette should recieve Oscar nods for the stunning performances as a selfish, hip London cad and a depressed, suicidal single mum. The film successfully combines comedy and drama to create a thoroughly enjoying and moving cinematic experience. All should see this film. It is a DVD must have. About a Boy is brilliant and stunning from top to bottom.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie
Review: 1/20/03 It is a very good movie with an excellent cast(Hugh Grant's attempt to explain his "being a blank" was indeed sad; and in the case of the 'boy's dilemna ,the nasty reality is 'bullies exist' and only in the best of schools is the problem not overlooked.
Rating:
Summary: about a good boy
Review: well if youve seen any other oh hugh grants movies, they are usually sort of slick suave and feminine. this one, though it complies with a grant-movie stereotype, it does much more than its predecessors. one of the few genuinally happy films of 2002, it actually relates to people and shows some real reason for its releasing. its about a young boy who is living a terribly rough childhood with his depressed mother as his only family. until he stumbles upon a snobby wealthy man (hugh grant) who is (un-admitted by him) also quite lonely. the boy fights through this man's denial for him and keeps pushing to be his friend til the man stops ignoring him and starts to find his first true friend in a young but sharply honest boy. a funny twist to the movie is that its title 'about a boy' seems to obviously point to the boy in the film but in conclusion seems to be referring to the boy in a man's body (grant) and the story about how he matured.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, great deleted scenes
Review: This is one of those rare films that is light-hearted, easy to watch, funny and yet still has an intelligent plot. It's actually about 2 boys: 12 year old Marcus who is wise beyond his years and 38 year old Will who is immature and shallow. Through their gradually developing friendship they both learn from the other how to act their own age. What makes it so watchable, I think, is that the characters are both comic and fully developed. Will believes he is an island, totally self-reliant, an attitude probably stemming a lot from natural laziness but also from his relationship with his late tormented father. Marcus is miserable from being bullied at school and haunted by images of his mother's attempted suicide, but he remains throughout a kid. What's more, he acts like a real kid - he's not cute, he swears, and he doesn't show much gratitude. The acting is without exception outstanding; my favourite was Toni Collette as Marcus' strong yet vunerable mother Fiona. One of the best scenes is when she storms into the restaurant where Will is sitting, loudly accuses him of abusing her son, and then when she realises she's got the wrong end of the stick tells him he's selfish because he's promised not to see Marcus any more. You can't help but pity Will in the face of such irrationality, and Collette pulls it off wonderfully. Other reviewers have complained about both the predictability of the plot and the ending, which is a significant change from the book. About the former, I can see where they are coming from but I personally don't agree. A Will/Fiona romance would have been predictable, but Will and Rachel is more realistic and also an important part of Will's character development. In addition, the general atmosphere of the film is so fresh that a little predictability wouldn't have done much damage anyway. About the latter (ie the ending), its a matter of taste, but I can't see how the book ending would have worked on screen. I think that the book ending is best for the book, and the film ending best for the film. The deleted scenes are definitely worth watching if you like the film. There are only a few of them, but they are substantial and very funny, and I can't see why any of them were taken out. In particular, I think the inclusion of the last one would have improved the ending, but then again the Weitz brothers know what they're doing. Finally the soundtrack is great. Badly Drawn Boy rocks, much like this film.
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