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| About
A Boy
Directed By: Chris
Weitz & Paul Weitz
Plot
Summary - Review 1 - Review
2 - CURRENT REVIEWS
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| 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 [TRAILER] I love lazy Sundays, lying on the couch, dreaming the day away. I lead a hectic life and await a chance to relax. For Will (Hugh Grant), however, everyday is a lazy Sunday. When people ask him "So, what do you do?" his answer is never "I'm a lawyer," or "I volunteer," but merely, "I do nothing." And he means it. His father wrote a popular song and Will lives exclusively off the royalties. He has never had to grow up. He lives alone, is set for life in the cash department, and has few responsibilities. His only real aspiration is finding women-whom he never really commits to either. "About A Boy" could refer to Will. At heart, he is still very much a child. Or, it could refer to the force behind Will's maturation-Marcus (Nicholas Hoult). Marcus is the grade-school son of a poor mother (Toni Collette) who meets Will through his attempt to date single women. Marcus gets the bright, and somewhat formulaic, idea of getting Will to love his mom and become his new dad. "About A Boy" is based on both a novel and screenplay by Nick Hornby, and its themes run parallel to that of "High Fidelity," another fantastic film based on a Hornby book. Hornby seems interested in the immaturity of men and the forces that finally drive them to grow up. In Will's case, Marcus' affections make him realize the emptiness of his life. While "About A Boy" is undoubtedly a comedy, I was impressed at the seriousness of the story and the film's ability to handle conventional developments in an original style. Consider, for example, Marcus' attempt to hook his mother up with Will. In a traditional movie, this would be out of Marcus' desire to see his mother happy and feel love. In "About A Boy," Marcus' mother is poor and he shrewdly realizes Will's financial stability and the monetary benefits of having him as a stepfather. In another scene, Will's attempt to help Marcus be "cool" at school by buying him designer shoes does not end with Marcus being the envy of his peers, but instead with the shoes getting stolen. Time after time, "About A Boy" shows an ability to deal with conflicts and issues in an extremely mature and unexpected way. Even the subjects that are addressed, from class envy to suicide, seem more grown-up than one would expect from a mainstream Hollywood comedy. Hugh Grant must be given credit then for bringing a perfect balance of comedy and drama to the screen. He has played the smirking Englishman before, but in "About A Boy" he successfully brings Will's conflicting existence into focus. He is a man caught in a carefree lifestyle who realizes mid-sentence in discussions with a date that he has truly accomplished nothing, has little to live for and has even less to offer another. The film's one gaping flaw is that in the end, as Will takes the plunge towards empathy, "About A Boy" opts for a conventional climax. After all the tough decisions and gutsy rhetoric, the film insists on a wrapping up the project with a pretty pink bow. While audiences won't care because these characters have paid their dues, it surely reduces "About A Boy" from a notable film to the level of a good date movie. I still respect it though for its unsentimental progression. This movie is about people talking, making decisions, and growing from their experiences. For Will, it is about learning there is more to care about than Xena reruns on lazy Sundays. Once outside the bubble of college, I'm sure I'll learn the same lesson.  (out
of 4)Check out Reviews, Commentary, and More at Zertinet.com |
LINKS
TO REVIEWS |
| Well, I thought it looked horrid, but then again, I could easily be wrong. Perhaps a movie to see in between Star Wars viewings. | |
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