Rating: 
Summary: About a Boy is right on!
Review: This is the best Hugh Grant film ever! He is absolutely brilliant in this film. I've already seen it 5 times in the theatre and I'll see it one more time, if I have another withdrawl before it is out on video. :) It is full of that great british humour that we all know and love. Its quite delicious. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Amusing, but as devoid of values as its lead reputed to be
Review: If you want an amusing time at the movies, you could certainly do worse than to see this lightweight comedy. All the reviews seem to be saying that Hugh Grant plays an irresponsible and immature character, self-absorbed and without any committment to values, who learns to be more responsible through a quirk of fate that thrusts him with a 12-year old boy who helps redeem him. But actually this movie doesn't really base itself on such a moral high ground as to be so preachy as reviewers seem to want to paint it. Grant's character is really a Londoner who doesn't at first bond closely with others, but proves to have a kind streak as the story goes on. None of the other characters in the movie really at any point tower above him as paragons of virtue; any lack of well-directed values in the movie seem to reflect generally the culture of London (at least as portrayed in this film) as much as they reflect his character. Perhaps this presumed typecasting of Hugh Grant reflects less about the characters he plays than about the way he just can't manage to live down the fallout from the time he was caught cheating on Elizabeth Hurley (who scarcely ever put forth a more likelable on-screen persona than his, for that matter). I'm not going to say that all movies should reflect Christian values, but Christians might have a point in noting that Christmas is made an important symbol herein, and while Christams is at its root a Christian holiday, no specifically Christian values whatsoever are reflected here. But Christian or otherwise, I found no clear moral direction in any character at any time to justify calling Grant's character particularly valuless by comparison. Anyhow, his bonding with the twelve-year old comes through Grant's character's invention of a fake son of his own to try to make a better impression on women who are single parents like he pretends to be. Greater involvent with the twelve-year-old begins when Grant's character and he discover that the latter's mother has attempted suicide. The relationship grows from there and is a mutual learning experience. But neither of these two guys is a saint single-handedly redeeming the other; the kid can in fact be demanding and a bit bratty at times. As for the part about masquerading as a parent to try to have better luck courting "other" single parents, well his deception is not exactly a moral high ground. But doesn't it say as much about a society that so arbitrarily values parenthood as to give one a motive for such deception? Indeed there is one scene in the movie that seems to give such value to being a parent that non-parents might as well bow out of the mating game in disgrace. With such attudes, no wonder some would cheat and deceive! Again, this is a somewhat amusing comedy that can be fun to watch. Just avoid buying into the overhyped premise that it rises to the level of a morality play!
Rating:
Summary: Remarcable !!
Review: Basically , it contains all . From single men who think they are islands , not beeing involved with any one , not wanting any interference in their oh ( boring life ) . To single mothers who strive to keep their life steady , between finding the right man , and taking care of their kids . And last but not least the same kids in how some live their life being beaten up all day , or the same beating kids , how they have their own problems . But all gathered up in a remarcable , fascinating , hilarious way !
Basically it showes how life really is , but in a beautiful touching way .Hugh grant was amazing i just love the way he acts , he brings life into movies . And as for me , i enjoyed every moment in watching that movie . And i'm just waiting for the Dvd to be out , so that i can order it :)
Rating:
Summary: remarkable , fascinating comedy
Review: Hugh Grant was awsome , i just loved the way he acted . Trying to keep himself in a man's world , seeing a child change his life , with ofcource all the comedy in place.All the actors were cute , and funny .Time just passed as i saw my self in their world . I loved it , and i am just waiting for the time that it would be available here so that i could order it . Funny , Nonboring comic .
Rating:
Summary: Recommened for Girls, Too: Very Funny and Honest Comedy
Review: This is the third (not the second) adaptation of bestselling novelist Nick Hornby, after "Fever Pitch" starring Colin Firth, and "High Fidelity" starring John Cusack. As his previous films all are, "About a Boy" is, very naturally, about a boy, or some thrity-something males with boy's heart. This time you will follow a life of Will, 38 years old, who lives a comfortable life in London, with the income from the copyright of a corny Christmas song his dad wrote years ago, spending every day watching TV, or sometimes, dating with girls without constant relations. In a word, a slacker. And he is played by perfectly cast (no sarcasm) Hugh Grant.Before you say "again!" ... yes, you are right, he was such a git in "Bridget Jones' Diary" ... let me add somthing more. There's another "boy" who steps into his comfy life, and that's Marcus, 12 years old, whose unlucky fate is sealed in a new school when his mother Toni Collette (again, simply great!) called him "I love you." Because of his ex-hippie mom who is very tender, but can easily raise hell when she is in a bad mood, Marcus seeks for a haven where he and his mom can find a help. And here's Will, plenty of time, and money too. So the very unlikely connection is established when Marcus accidentally killed a duck in a park by a loaf of bread (seriously), and his mom is brought to ER in a hospital. Inspite of constant rejection on the side of Will, who considers himself as an human island, their friendship as temporary boy-and-father status slowly starts to develop. First, remember this. You will find Hugh Grant's "Will" unlikeable fellow at first, who chases only single mothers for his date (see the reason in film). At least, he is honest, and don't hide that fact. Charmingly self-centered Will, however, will be very attractive after Marcus's character comes to him. So after the opening credit, you have to wait a while. Second, though this has a side of romantic comedy (particularly after Rachael Weisz appears), you soon realize that "About a Boy" is basically the changing friendship between these "boys." Hugh Grant delivers a nice performance as a helplessly self-assured guy after his "Daniel Clever" alongside with Bridget Jones, but it is the talented newcomer Nicholas Hoult who should be called the real star of the film. He is natural, likeable, and most of all, believable. Don't be put off just because this is not about girls. Directors Paul and Chris Weitz Bros. are famous for "American Pie," but there's no gross-out elements that stand out in that film (and "American Pie" is in reality confirming a very traditional values between boys and girls). They again succeed in portraying a web of credible relations between characters, punctuated with very funny moments. Though too many narrations (and in Grant's mumbling British accent I find them very hard to understand) are often annoying, and the finale might be a step longer than it should be, the total result is very amusing, and honest as well. I like it.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant, lovely and if you don't like it then BUGGER OFF!
Review: Quite simply the smartest dialog heard from any film in quite some time. The narrative voices of both Will and Marcus help deliver their inner-monoloques to the masses and offer poignant reality and perspective to their collective existence. In doing so, the audience is left to cleverly put it all together without the usual spoon-fed plotting that movies tend offer these days. This is one DVD that I will add to my collection, right along side my Roberta Flack CD!
Rating:
Summary: A funny story with believable characters
Review: For your average movie-goer this film is very entertaining and funny. For those of you who are serious film critics you might have some qualms about the adapatation or the direction. But, since most of us do not aspire to be a Siskel or an Ebert let me write this review for the average movie-goer. I found the movie to be quite entertaining and very funny. I have seen a number of films that star Hugh Grant and he plays my favorite character over all the others in this one. Nick Hornby can write some excellent characters. John Cusack's character in High Fidelity was superb and this one is just as good. Hugh Grant plays "Will" a somewhat shallow and deceitful thirty-something who is still looking for long-term relationship that works. Will does not have a job and actually "does nothing." Because he is so decietful and he takes a liking to single mums he fakes having his own child to enroll in a single-mom help club. He eventually meets a young lad who befriends him and they help eachother with relationships with women. The central theme in the film is whether Will can abandon his "everyman is an island" and become less self-centered. The results are often hilarious. This is a great character and a great film. I recommend seeing it.
Rating:
Summary: Touching, insightful, funny and enjoyable
Review: Very enjoyable film. A well done comedy as well as an entertaining commentary about modern life. Another very good adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel (see also "Fever Pitch" and "High Fidelity"). Hugh Grant is brilliant as Will, and it is a refreshing change from many of his previous movie roles. I prefer watching him play the handsome cad rather than the bumbling nice guy (v.boring).
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie of the Year
Review: This clever comedy makes you laugh, warms your heart, and brings a huge smile to your face when it's over. It pleasantly surprises you with its smart humor. Hugh Grant is wonderful, as well as the other cast members. I haven't loved a movie this much in a long time. I recommend it to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: This was close to 5 stars!
Review: I waited awhile to see this film, because I'd liked the book so much and thought I'd be disappointed...that was not the case! "About a Boy" is a quirky British film, amazingly directed by the team of Chris & Paul Weitz.
The Weitz team previously brought us "American Pie" (the original) and Chris Rock's "Down to Earth", so they are not known for their subtlety. In writing this screenplay from the final novel by Nick Hornby, and in directing this film, the Weitz' let it be known that they can do many, many different types of film. "About a Boy" will receive far better reviews and larger audiences in Britain, where it is set, than in America, because Brits will relate to the honest portrayal of contemporary London life. Americans may think the film a little boring, because it tells such a simple story, and because the comedy is so gentle. In the film, Hugh Grant plays a role that we expect him to play, a mid-thirties Londoner in search of single women for passing relationships. Grant plays Will as someone who enjoys his independence, his ability to live well on his inheritance without having a career, and who enjoys his carefully scheduled life (in half-hour increments). His few friends think him lonely and unfulfilled, and he doesn't recognize this as truthful, never stopping to realize how much time he
spends watching TV alone. He doesn't relate to children, but makes a determination that single mothers are good targets for dating, without needing to form long-term relationships. Grant does a voiceover, narrating the story, and it is in his conversation with the audience that we get most of the history and quirkiness of his character. This is Grant's best performance in years. Enter young Marcus ( Nicholas Hoult), a 12-year-old boy, whose habitually depressed hippie mother (Toni Collette, also the mom in "The Sixth Sense") has imposed her style of dress (awkward, dated), her tastes (vegetarianism, old American pop music) on her son. Wanting to please her, Marcus is a nerdy outcast at his school and is desperately unhappy there. Surprisingly, Marcus pushes the relationship with Will, who he meets quite by chance, on an outing with one of his mother's friends. The outing ends when the group finds Marcus' mom after a failed suicide attempt. The suicide is the central reason for Marcus seeking out another adult (he chooses Will) and Will cannot turn him away, based on his pity for Marcus' situation. While Will and Marcus are trying to use each other to meet their own needs, they end up spending so much time together that they come to depend on each other as friends, and as the only real relationship that either has in a misfit life. The film doesn't take itself too seriously, and although there are some moments that probably should have been handled in a different way (the dual performance at the school Rock Concert should not have happened, the character of Alistair, son of Rachel (Rachel Weisz, the love interest) is over the top), all in all, "About a Boy" is an enjoyable little film that will probably fade from American movie screens long before it should, and, like most of Grant's films, enjoy a long shelf life at the video store.
Worth seeing, Grant is wonderful!
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