About a Boy | | Cast : | Hugh Grant | | Director : | Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | May 17, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | January 14, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 04, 2005 | | Summary | Hugh Grant Wins a New Fan | Content
 | I had never been much of a Hugh Grant fan until watching this movie. His comic talents are on full display here. Hugh Grant has a knack for playing self centered pricks or bumbling fools. In this he is doing the self centered thing. This movie is hilarious and heartfelt. Nick Hornsby seems to translate well to the big screen, High Fidelity was just as good as this. This film shines as a story of love, transformation, and redemption, as well as a offering a lot of laughs along the way. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 28, 2005 | | Summary | Enjoyable | Content
| That's a nice movie but there is nothing which is creative. It is an enjoyable movie but I have seen better films of Hugh Grant. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 19, 2005 | | Summary | Another great Grant Performance, but not the strongest story | Content
| Hugh Grant seems to have perfected the role of playing the spoiled young Rich person. In many of his films, this is the role he has been cast into - and he has done a brilliant job at perfecting his character in each of these roles. I've become a big fan of Hugh Grant's - not because of the characters he plays, but because he probably has become the top actor in his profession when it comes to Romantic Comedy films. I was particularly excited about the film "About a Boy". In addition to having the spoiled rich man in a Romantic Comedy, Grant was going to be able to demonstrate his talents opposite a young boy. While this film did entertain me, I probably wouldn't put this film at the top of Grant's portfolio of film work he has done.
This film is basically divided into two parts. In the first part of film, we see Grant as Will - a rich single bachelor who doesn't need to work and who enjoys the singles scene. Will is content with his life. Will gets the idea of pursuing "single moms", however Will intends fully to continue to "play the field" without getting bogged down into any commitment. He even invents an imaginary son to help in his pursuit of single moms. While dating a single mom, Will meets nerdy 12-year-old Marcus Brewer. Marcus is the son of a friend of this particular single mom. It seems that Marcus' mother Fiona is suffering from serious depression problems - and even tries to commit suicide. Fiona's suicide attempt is unsuccessful, and following that - Marcus decides that Will would be the perfect companion for his mother. Although Marcus' attempts at setting Will and his mother fail, Marcus soon develops a liking for Will as friend. Thus, the first part of the film, we see a bond between to form between Will and Marcus.
In the second part of the film, things begin to change. Will begins to pursue a woman named Rachel (played by Rachel Weitz), who also has a young son. For the first time, Will begins to see things differently. He begins to realize how shallow his life has been to this point, and that he may want to do more than just play the field. Now it's Will who must enlist Marcus' help to win over Rachel. Meanwhile Marcus is still having problems - coping with his mother's depression and trying to win over a girl he likes. When things go sour with Will and Rachel, it's Marcus who calls on Will for help. But Will is having self-doubts, and is not sure he can be there for Marcus.
There are some good and bad things about this film. For starters, Hugh Grant delivers another stellar performance. While in movies such as "Nine Months", we've seen Grant able to pull of the physical comedy, this movie focuses more on Grant's dry sense of humor - and this comes off brilliantly. One terrific scene is at the end of the movie when Grant comes on stage with Marcus and sings a duet of "Killing Me Softly". It's a scene that you wouldn't expect from Hugh Grant, yet it comes off brilliantly. One thing that is interesting is that the film is narrated from two perspectives. The first perspective comes from Will. Will narrates the story from his point of view and as he narrates it we see a transformation of the self-centered rich person who plays the field to the person wanting more out of life and being a responsible person others can rely on. The second perspective comes from Marcus. Marcus will narrate things and we see how he transforms from a nerdy kid lacking self-confidence, to a person who has gained self-confidence thanks to his friendship with Will. Finally, I liked the fact that the movie was filmed in England. I've always felt that Grant has been very strong when he is on his "home turf" - in such movies as "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Notting Hill", he has blended into the London scene perfectly.
As for the bad things. I did not care for Nicholas Hoult's portrayal of Marcus. I did not find Marcus the boy who would "warm our hearts" and be a scene-stealer. In fact, I think it was almost delibrate that he wasn't a scene-stealer. I found Hoult's portrayal as Marcus as one that would make the Marcus character unlikable - even though you feel sorry for him that he is dealing with a mother who suffers from depression. There is a scene in the movie that leaves you hanging - it is when Will is in a liquor store and he has a memory of his father in the liquor store. I know a point was trying to be made here about Will's background and character - but to me this scene should have either been removed or expanded on. Instead, I found myself asking more questions.
Finally, I did not like how the movie came to a conclusion. I thought the setting of the school Rock concert was pretty weak - even though this was the setting for the scene where Will sings "Killing Me Softly". But to me - there had to be a better, more emotional setting for a conclusion to this movie. We've seen great conclusions in such films as "Notting Hill" and "Bridget Jones' Diary", but this film seems to drop the ball. I did like the "epilogue" to the movie - when we see how everything turns out.
Overall, I still did enjoy the movie. If you are a Hugh Grant, this will keep you happy. However, you probably will realize that this isn't like some of the other "Home Run" films ("Nine Months", "Bridget Jones' Diary", "Love, Actually") that Hugh Grant has been a part of. It's still a movie worth checking out. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 17, 2005 | | Summary | One to watch again & again | Content
| I've watched this movie more than any other in my DVD library. The unlikely story of how an independently wealthy and shallow guy in his late 30s living a pointless existence (Hugh Grant) hooks up with a dorky (but not at all sickening) twelve year old boy and the way their offbeat relationship flourishes is endlessly charming.
There's nothing preachy, saccharine, or depressing in the movie, despite the fact that the kid's mother (played by the gifted actress Toni Colette) tries to commit suicide at one point and the kid performs Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" to a hostile audience of rowdy teens.. I hate to use the word "heartwarming", but darned if it isn't. It's one of those movies you will want to see again. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 08, 2005 | | Summary | About Just About Everyone | Content
| This is a wonderful movie that my family and I have watched over and over and will watch again. The characters ring true and are so diverse that anyone should be able to identify with one or more of them. With all their faults and problems, they are still likable and very human. Who would think that a movie dealing with loneliness, depression, suicide, alcoholism, abandonment and anger could be so positive, happy and inspiring, while still ringing true? The message of caring and love is powerful and moving, no matter how many times I have seen it.
This movie is also cleverly funny. Hugh Grant (and everyone else) is wonderful. The music is perfect.
Highly recommended - one of my all-time favorites. |
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