Rating: 
Summary: a certified comic gem
Review: I think I smiled all the way through "About a Boy," a comic near-masterpiece derived from the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby. For the sake of accuracy, both the novel and the film should more rightly be titled "About TWO Boys," since the story focuses not only on 12-year old Marcus, but on 38-year old Will, a man totally dedicated to the proposition that any man who so desires can live quite happily on his own private little urban island, thank you very much. Will's "island" is his own London flat, which he has equipped with all the accoutrements of comfort and diversion that modern technology - in the form of computers, big screen TV's and DVD players - can afford. Who needs people when you have so much "stuff" to keep you content and occupied? Will thrives in his environment, much to the chagrin of his married couple friends who keep insisting that he must certainly be miserable without a wife and family to give his life meaning. But Will loves being shallow - a fact of his personality he is more than willing to declare right up front - and the last thing he needs - or thinks he needs - is people to clutter it up. Yet, island dwellers have a tendency not to remain marooned for long, and, before he knows it, Will finds himself striking up a relationship with a lonely, backward boy named Marcus, whose mother suffers from serious bouts of suicidal depression.More than any comedy in recent memory, "About a Boy" establishes a tone and sticks with it to the end. The screenplay by Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz (the latter two function as the film's directors as well) manages to take a potentially clichéd and predictable story and invest it with a warmth, wit and tenderness that are all-enveloping. The voice-over narration by both Will and Marcus, which introduces us to their characters and keeps us informed as to their mental progress throughout the film, is remarkably clever and droll. Yet, the characters never come across as smug, smart-alecky or flippant. Rather, they speak and behave in ways that are both believable and realistic. Hugh Grant gives his richest performance to date as Will, the man who refuses to grow up and assume the role of responsible adult, blithely unaware of the emotional depths that lie hidden under a surface of apathy and indifference. The superb Grant is more than matched by relative newcomer Nicholas Hoult, an extraordinarily gifted young actor who doesn't look like the average "adorable" screen kid, and who makes Marcus into a very real, very likable and very sensitive young man. The remainder of the large cast is outstanding as well. Moreover, the film is very astute in its observation about just how easy technology has made it for us to isolate ourselves from one another. Admittedly, a little of the sharpness does go out of the screenplay in its closing stretches, but not enough to diminish one's pleasure appreciably. In many ways, "About a Boy" is a movie that needs to be experienced first hand, since mere words fail to convey the very special charm and spell it manages to cast over the viewer. Rush to see it. Comic gems like this one don't come around very often!
Rating:
Summary: Great Light Entertainment!
Review: This is a really entertaining if slightly lightweight film. Good story line, wonderful characters, witty dialogue and excellent acting throughout. In fact all the main characters give wonderful performances-none more then Hugh Grant who was an actor I really didn't care much for until recently. He is superb as the spoilt likeable rogue who is the centrepiece of the movie. He's inherited mountains of money from his father who happened to have a fluke Christmas hit in the 50's. The substantial royalty acts as both a blessing and a curse as this journey of discovery takes him from being someone who has brief romances, never has to work, has all the latest gadgets and fashion accessories and of course lives a complete live of leisure. Yet he soon comes to realise that his life is pretty shallow-there's nothing interesting about him, he may as well be a handsome cardboard caracuture. He discovers that single mothers are a great source of romance and it is here he eventually discovers the other lead-the boy Marcus. This boy lives with his closetted, veggie, depressed hippy Mom played by the amazing Toni Colette. Grant pretends to have a son but Marcus discovers his secret and sort of inflicts himself on Grant. You see both characters need each other but obviously in very different ways.
This is a great piece of light entertainment-some of the scenes are hilarious and the dialogue is generally sharp, witty and yet cringe-inducing at the same time. Like another film based on Nick Hornby's writing High Fidelity-some of About A Boy's funniest moments come through the characters expressing their thoughts in a monologue. This film kept me entertained throughout-and even the duller moments you still have the stupendous soundtrack composed by Badly Drawn Boy to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Hugh Grant's Best Performance
Review: Being afforded a life of independent means can be a blessing in some regards, perhaps, but it can also be the definitive test of one's character. If one chooses to use such a situation toward altruistic ends, or at the very least a venture that can provide some personal fulfillment, it says something about who that person is. On the other hand, if one squanders the opportunity on a totally self-absorbed, shallow existence, it says even more. And while taking the latter path may provide some interesting moments, it's a cosmetically created, external bubble that serves no other purpose than covering up an empty life, and sooner or later-- to anyone with even a modicum of intelligence-- that bubble is bound to burst; and when it finally happens, when the wake-up call comes, how one responds to it is the ultimate test of character, which is what happens to a such a man in "About A Boy," directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, and starring Hugh Grant. As far as Will Freeman (Grant) is concerned, he has the perfect life; he lives comfortably, if not extravagantly, on the income provided by a certain kind of inheritance. On the surface, at least, he's happy. Admittedly, however, he's the very epitome of "shallow," who makes a conscious and concerted effort at avoiding any commitment in relationships, or even attempting to accomplish or achieve anything at all. He merely takes from life, gives absolutely nothing back and has always been content with it. But of late, his relationships have become a bit "sticky." Women are becoming too demanding, the break-ups too messy. He needs a new conquest, a relationship in which he can flex his shallowness anew, with a woman who will give him everything and demand nothing in return. Fortuitous circumstances provide him with just what he's looking for; fortuitous, however, in a way he doesn't realize, as it leads to a relationship through which he encounters a young boy, Marcus (Nicholas Hoult). And it's a meeting that is destined to have an enormous impact on his life, as Marcus becomes the catalyst that changes Will's entire perspective. For the first time, Will begins to question who he is, and what he's doing-- or not doing-- with his life. Telling this story (adapted for the screen by Peter Hedges and the Weitz brothers, from the novel by Nick Hornby) presented a challenge to the filmmakers, in that it's nothing really new; the history of the cinema is filled with stories of individual epiphanies, many along the same lines as this one (recently, "The Kid," with Bruce Willis, for example). So a fresh approach and presentation, including the kind of performances they could extract from their actors, was essential for this film to attain any distinction whatsoever. Which it does, and splendidly. And, moreover, they succeed on all fronts. The screenplay is intelligent, and the characters-- especially Will and Marcus' mom, Fiona (Toni Collette)-- are convincingly well developed. With Will, there is no sudden leap into who he becomes by the end of the film; it comes though a gradual recognition and realization of who he is, after first establishing a starting point from which the character can grow. The same is true of Fiona. There's detours and set-backs which-- as in real life-- prevent a direct journey from point A to point B, and create the proverbial sticky wicket along the way. Weitz and Weitz set a good pace, and most importantly, manage to give their film some real heart without lapsing into any melodramatic, maudlin sentimentality. Rather, the sentiments and situations they express are real and believable, and presented in such a way as to afford the audience any number of elements to which they can genuinely relate. As Will, Hugh Grant gives arguably his best performance ever. In some respects, Will is similar to other characters Grant has created (most notably Daniel in "Bridget Jones's Diary"), but there's a depth to Will he's never previously managed to achieve, and without question this is his most three-dimensional, fully developed character yet. Grant has a natural charm and a charismatic screen presence, but his presentation is often tinged with a bit of pretentiousness that is entirely absent here. He does an especially nice job of effecting Will's transition in very real and credible terms, and by the end, it's obvious that this is a side of Grant we have not seen before; with this role, he has effectively expanded his range as an actor. In the final analysis, it's a performance with real substance, and it makes Will a truly memorable character. The young Hoult brings Marcus convincingly to life, as well, with an extremely natural performance, in which he commendably manages to avoid the trappings of stereotype into which this character could easily have fallen. Some credit must go to his directors, of course, but it's Hoult who makes it especially believable in the way he responds, for instance, to certain given situations that typically seem to evoke a particular reaction when being depicted on screen (his rather introspective response to the taunts of his school mates, for example; quite different than what is usually portrayed in film). And in their scenes together, Grant and Hoult strike a chord of reality that finally assures the overall success of this film. The supporting cast includes Rachel Weisz (Rachel), Isabel Brook (Angie), Sharon Small (Christine), Victoria Smurfit (Suzie) and Nat Gastiain Tena (Ellie). Entertaining, as well as insightful, "About A Boy" gives a truly fresh perspective to an element of the human condition that has been explored before, but rarely as effectively. The Weitz Brothers make the subject of their film accessible to a wide audience, and in a way that is engaging and satisfying. This film is going to be a pleasant surprise to many who see it, in that it delivers a whole lot more than most would expect. And that's the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: A Hugh Grant movie for guys!
Review: "About a Boy" is about a 38 yr old man, Will (Hugh Grant), who believes he has created an "island paradise" for himself with all sorts of gadgets, DVDs, CDs, books, and magazines. He lives quite comfortably off the royalties of a cheesy, novelty, Christmas song his late father wrote in 1958, and, as a result, has never had the need to work. Like all island dwellers, he occassionally "visits the mainland" to meet women, but only to satify his sexual desires in relationships that he quickly ends. Will knows he's a shallow person, but he believes himself to be perfectly contented and happy. That is until a scheme of his to meet desperate women blows up in his face. Will believes that he has discovered that single moms are a great source for short-term relationships with plenty of ego massage, sex, and a guilt-free break-up. However, Will entangles himself in a web of lies and in the ensuing mess becomes acquintanted with Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a geeky 12 yr old, who is having a tough time at home, due to his neo-hippie Mom's (Toni Collette) suicidal depression, and at school, where his bowl haircut, thriftstore clothes, and unintentional singing of unhip Carpenters' tunes has made him a target for bullies. For a number of reasons Marcus takes a shine to Will, and, despite Will's protests that his life, "The Will Show," is not an ensemble cast, becomes a fixture in Will's life. This is esentially a story of friendship and a man finally growing up by realizing that he cares for someone else. In the end, Will sacrifices the ratings of the "The Will Show" in order to help Marcus out. (I've had Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" ringing in my head for days. See the movie and you'll understand.) Here in the States "About a Boy" is not having the same success as it did in the UK, mainly because it has been mistakenly marketed as a romantic comedy- aka the kind of movie that women drag their boyfriends and husbands to. But "About a Boy" is not a romantic comedy since Will's relations with women are secondary to his growing sense of responsibility towards Marcus. In fact, this might be the only Hugh Grant film that may appeal more to men than to women. In "About a Boy," Grant is not playing his usual stammering, floppy-haired, puppy-dog eyed character that women swoon over and men want to punch out. Instead Will is a guys' guy. "About a Boy" is a "buddy picture"- two guys bonding and helping each other out. It's also a very funny and warm-hearted movie that deserves a larger audience!
Rating:
Summary: As Jon Bon Jovi said, "No man is Ibiza."
Review: I've made slighting references to the Weitz brothers in previous reviews, but in this one I must take them all back, with apologies. "About a Boy" is one of the wittiest, most touching and most joyous comedies of the past few years, a totally worthy adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel. The Weitzes completely redo Hornby's ending, but their choice is both more uplifting and more cinematic. Hugh Grant gives the best performance of his career to date as the caddish but soft-hearted Will; his style combines the best of Cary Grant with the best of David Niven, and his face is so expressive he makes Jim Carrey look like Jack Webb. Toni Collette once more completely disappears into a role as sad, discombobulated Fiona; if there's a more versatile screen actress today, I don't know who it is. Nicholas Hoult, with his cherubic face, beetling eyebrows and Beatle haircut, is a perfect and perfectly lovable Marcus. "About a Boy" will leave you feeling happier about yourself and more connected with the people around you. That's no small achievement for a comedy.
Rating:
Summary: One of 2002's best!
Review: It had been several years since I had read the Nick Hornby Novel, "About a Boy", but I did remember enjoying it greatly, so I was looking forward to the movie. I was not let down. Hugh Grant, with a gorgeous new haircut, plays Will Freeman, a confirmed bachelor who doesn't care about anybody but himself. He has no ambitions of any sort, and doesn't really need to, financially, as he is living off royalties from a Christmas song his late father wrote years ago. His response to the question, "So what do you do?", "Nothing.", is very fitting to just what kind of person we are introduced to early in this movie. We are then introduced to Marcus. A sweet little boy aged 12 years old who lives with his suicidal, hippie, vegetarian mother (Toni Collette) He is teased at school because he is different. The portrayal of the bullies at his school was well done. When Will has a brief relationship with a single mother, he comes to the conclusion that single mothers are where to find the women. After all, they're desperate for love, after having been burned by the fathers of their children. He then joins "SPAT" (single parents alone together), and invents a son and an ex-wife. Through his connection with this group he eventually meets up with Marcus, and takes a liking to Will. After following Will around and discovering that he indeed has no child, Marcus invites himself to Will's flat, where a big brother/little brother relationship of sorts is formed. Through this relationship Marcus learns to be a bit "cooler", and Will learns a little bit about unselfish love. The scenes in which Will and Marcus interact with each other are priceless, especially the Talent show at the school scene. I definitely cannot wait until the DVD for this one comes out.
Rating:
Summary: A refreshing treat . . . I was surprised
Review: This film could have been a real bomb--romantic comedies are often very formulaic and ofter little the audience hasn't seen before. Maybe it's because it's set in London (with a delightful British flavour fully intact)or maybe it's because the child actor, Nicholas Hoult, plays the dorky Marcus perfectly, but this movie is anything but stale. Trendy Londoner Will Freeman realizes, after being fixed up with a single mom, that they're London's largest untapped resource for men who specialize in his brand of love-'em-and leave-'em charm. He immediately invents a son and heads off to single parents support group, and immediately gets to work wooing the prettiest woman there. This hilarious charade leads Will right into the middle of a troubled young boy's life, and Will's own life, which consists largely of watching television, indulging in expensive salon visits, and reading Esquire and other magazines (no job--he lives on a trust fund), is never the same. Slowly, Will warms to the boy, Marcus, and the two begin a symbiotic emotional growth spurt that is warm and touching, though admittedly not very realistic. Marcus is relentlessly teased in school. Though sad, it's understandable--he often breaks into spontaneous song (not even cool songs--more like Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly") and his mom is a clingy hippie woman who is completely oblivious to the fact that her son is a social outcast--and she's also manically depressed. Will absorbs all this and does his the best he can--as a confirmed bachelor--to help make Marcus cool. Slowly, the two become attached to each other. Of course there's a blowup between them and Will finally sees the light and comes to Marcus's rescue (perhaps the only predictable aspect of the plot), but the relationship is at all times heartwarming and funny. This movie is very watchable, thick with dry wit, and and a refreshing kind of comedy. I recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Great example of good adaptation, good ex. of bad directing
Review: It rarely occurs that the movie is better than the novel, this, of course, is not the case here. Nick Hornby's "About a Boy" is one of my favorite novels to come out of the nineties, a cynical look at single life and an awakening to something greater. And the film gets this across wonderfully. Nick Hornby is a great writer and it seems that his books make great movies, much like 2000's adaptation of "High Fidelity". (I can't wait to see what becomes of his newest novel, "How to be Good", it's really good by the way.) Yet, between the novel and the film there is always something that gets lost...
Hugh Grant stars as Will, a self-absorbed thirty-eight year old well-to-do English bum, living off the royalties of his fathers one hit wonder from 1958, a now traditional Christmas tune. Nicholas Hoult stars as Marcus, a twelve-year old who deals with his suicidal mother and the common teasings in the school yard. Both of these roles were played to perfection. I have never been one to praise Hugh Grant, for his ability in acting has forever been tainted as "The Charming Brit." Yet, by the end of this film I was fully convinced and I loved him and his character. Toni Collette, who I have loved since I saw "Cosi!"(a small 1997 Australian film), stars as Marcus' mother who begins and ends each day with an almost ritual crying. Once again, I wasn't surprised at her outstanding performance. Rachel Weisz, as Will's genuine love interest, was beautiful and played with the perfect amount of charm and subtlety.
There is an element at play here within the film that could make one cringe if it were to bother them enough as it did me. The two directors, Chris and Paul Weitz, whose endeavors include "American Pie" and "Down to Earth", were perhaps not qualfied for the job of directing such a film. The film is a simple one with simple dialogue, simple acting, and simple humor. Yet, the Weitz Brothers try to add an element which should not exist. The camera angling seemed odd and very awkward at moments. Such shots as reflections in door knobs and TV screens that just didn't fit. The Weitz Brothers problem may be in the fact that through trying to redeem themselves, they have dug a deeper hole. This is a great example of bad filmmaking. Trying to complicate a simple scene with supposed artsy camera angling. I didn't buy it, and it came off cliched and unaffectual...which doesn't help when the film is supposed to be redeeming.
The adaptation was wonderful, there were some things from the book I would've like to see in the film, but for film you must make sacrifices. The thing about adapting a book to film that was hardly written over five years ago is that people will forever remember the film before the book. If you adapt a classic like "Huckleberry Finn" to film, everyone still remembers the book. I say, wait a little longer, let the book take its place and let it be remembered for a book, not a film. Personal opinion here folks.
Overall, great acting, great adaptation, but some really shotty decisions made by the two directors. If you can overlook that, this is very refreshing film that will literally leave you with a large smile upon your face.
Rating:
Summary: hugh is cute!
Review: a popular Nick Hornby novel turned Brit movie staring Hugh Grant as Will, who goes to a Single Parents Meeting to find women, posing as a single father. But his plan back fires when he gets involved with hippie child Marcus who's freethinking hippie mothers tries to kill herself and Marcus turns to Will as a friend. A great cast including Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) who shines in this film along side Grant and Toni Collette (Muriel's Wedding which I highly recommend!) This film is very funny....worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: About a Boy is about loving community
Review: For some odd reason, I passed up Insomnia, which I will love, and Unfaithful, which i will LOVE, and went to see a safe, tame comedy. Boy, did I come away with a good experience. Many will rave about the acting, the humor, the beautiful sets and nicely drawn characters, but let me rave abut he message: that two people aren't enough, no matter who they are. It takes a community to hold families together and couples together and raise children, and watch out for sick and ailing people, and bring loners out of their shells and make the world a better place. There was no superhero in this movie, there were about six. Thanks for a movie about real life, real love and real hope.
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