About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)
by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Weisz, Sharon Small, Toni ColletteDirector: 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 ShannonArt House & International DVD Video
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