About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)

About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)
by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)
List Price: $9.99
Our Price: $8.49
You Save: $1.50 (15%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Weisz, Sharon Small, Toni Collette
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Cinematographer: Remi Adefarasin
Editor: Nick Moore
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-01-14
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios

Movie Reviews of About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)

Movie Review: Not quite High Fidelity, but close enough to be a contender
Summary: 4 Stars

Not surprisingly, this film feels and unfolds similarly to its cinematic sibling, High Fidelity. Based on John Cusack and Jack Black's outstanding and often hilarious performances in that film, I'd have to say it solidly scores a 5 star rating, and About a Boy, while good, is more of a 4 1/2. About a Boy drags a little at times, isn't quite as overtly humorous, occasionally seems muddled and unsure of its direction or ultimate destination, and leaves poor Toni Colette's character hanging while wrapping things up nicely for everyone else.

Faults aside, About a Boy is refreshingly quirky, honest, and life affirming. Hugh Grant is utterly believable as Will, an aging slacker with a trust fund and uber-cool pad but no friends or fun or reason to get out of bed in the morning. He decides to try to pose as a single dad in order to date single moms in a self-help group, and somehow falls into a cross-generational friendship with an outwardly nerdy but inwardly awesome pre-teen named Marcus. Of course eventually Hugh meets a cute lass and after predictable misunderstandings they finally get together, but in the meantime, the relationship with Marcus and the insight into Marcus's world and the battles he's fighting really lend weight to what could otherwise be a tasteless, rehashed Notting Hill.

Although the movie's end doesn't quite leave you punching the air and yelling "Yes! Ten stars!" it's still well worth the time, and it's complex and layered enough to be worth later re-watching (which is more than you can say for 99% of the movies out there, right?!).

All in all, a funky little gem of a movie that nicely marries Hollywood happy endings with credible characters, plot, and dialogue and a nifty, soulful, Britpoppy soundtrack. 4 1/2 thumbs up!

Summary of About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)

A box-office smash in England, About a Boy went on to charm the world as another fine adaptation (following High Fidelity) of a popular Nick Hornby novel. While High Fidelity transplanted its London charm to Chicago, this irresistible comedy was directed by Americans Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie) with its British pedigree intact. Better yet, Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as Will, a self-absorbed trust-fund slacker who tries to improve his romantic odds by preying on desperate single mothers. His cynical strategy backfires when he recruits the misfit son (Nicholas Hoult) of a suicidal mother (Toni Collette) to pose as his own son, thus proving his parental prowess to his latest single-mom target (Rachel Weisz). The kid has a warming effect on this ultimate cad, and what could have been a sappy tearjerker turns into a subtle, frequently hilarious portrait of familial quirks and elevated self-esteem. From start to finish, it's a genuine treat. --Jeff Shannon

Art House & International DVD Video

DVD Video
Movies most talked about in Movies with wonderful music
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol ImageMr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Release date: 2004-09-14; DVD
Best price: $6.34
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition) ImageThe Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2006-10-03; DVD
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops: $29.99
Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition) ImageMusic and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition)
GRANT,HUGH; Release date: 2007-05-08; DVD
Best price: $5.63
Price in other shops: $14.96
Rear Window (Collector's Edition) ImageRear Window (Collector's Edition)
Release date: 2001-03-06; DVD
Best price: $19.29
Price in other shops: $19.98
You Only Live Twice ImageYou Only Live Twice
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $7.02
Price in other shops: $14.98
Casablanca ImageCasablanca
BOGART,HUMPHREY; Release date: 2000-02-15; DVD
Best price: $10.89
Price in other shops: $19.98
Truly Madly Deeply ImageTruly Madly Deeply
Release date: 2001-12-26; DVD
Best price: $46.16
Stripes (Unrated Extended Cut) ImageStripes (Unrated Extended Cut)
Sony; Release date: 2005-06-07; DVD
Best price: $4.70
Price in other shops: $14.94
Pleasantville (New Line Platinum Series) ImagePleasantville (New Line Platinum Series)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops: $14.98
Overboard ImageOverboard
HAWN,GOLDIE; Release date: 1999-01-19; DVD
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops: $14.98
Similar DVD Movies
Mickey Blue Eyes ImageMickey Blue Eyes
Release date: 1999-12-28; DVD
Best price: $3.51
Price in other shops: $9.98
Nine Months ImageNine Months
Release date: 2001-04-17; DVD
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops: $9.98
Billy Elliot ImageBilly Elliot
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2001-04-17; DVD
Best price: $7.90
Price in other shops: $14.98
Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason (Widescreen Edition) ImageBridget Jones - The Edge of Reason (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2005-03-22; DVD
Best price: $3.46
Price in other shops: $5.98
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain ImageThe Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
Release date: 1999-09-07; DVD
Best price: $5.70
Price in other shops: $9.99
Bridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition) ImageBridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition)
ZELLWEGER,RENEE; Release date: 2004-11-09; DVD
Best price: $4.46
Price in other shops: $14.99
Two Weeks Notice (Widescreen Edition) ImageTwo Weeks Notice (Widescreen Edition)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2003-04-29; DVD
Best price: $3.78
Price in other shops: $14.97
Four Weddings and a Funeral ImageFour Weddings and a Funeral
MACDOWELL,ANDIE; Release date: 1999-09-07; DVD
Best price: $3.40
Price in other shops: $14.98
Notting Hill (Collector's Edition) ImageNotting Hill (Collector's Edition)
Release date: 1999-11-09; DVD
Best price: $6.09
Price in other shops: $12.98
Love Actually (Widescreen Edition) ImageLove Actually (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2004-04-27; DVD
Best price: $6.20
Price in other shops: $12.98
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners