Starring: Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Nicholas Hoult
Director: Chris and Paul Weitz
Rated: MA15+
WILL (Grant) is a 38 year-old confirmed bachelor whose father left him the royalties to a hit song he wrote in 1958. As a result Will has no reason to work. He has, in fact, done nothing with his life, of which he is immensely proud. ‘I really am shallow,’ is his badge of honour.
Will is petrified of commitment and goes from one casual relationship to the next. In his pursuit of the next conquest he accidentally meets Marcus (Hoult), the 12 year-old son of the chronically-depressed, single parent Fiona (Collette). Marcus plays matchmaker and in the process gets under Will’s heavily guarded defences.
Based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel of the same name, screenwriter Peter Hedges, famous for writing What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, has adapted this material for the cinema with affection and good humour.
About a Boy starts out as a caustic study of the ‘Me generation’. Hugh Grant plays the obnoxious and narcissistic Will to perfection. The range of the character shows us what a good actor Grant actually is. It’s a push for us to accept that Marcus is as precocious and assured as the script portrays him but, given that it’s possible, Hoult realises the role very well indeed. Toni Collette poignantly portrays the desperation and dislocation of Fiona.
About a Boy is a classic conversion story with enough twists for it to be a realistic feel-good film. It names all sorts of important issues from singles who opt out of marriage and having children, to school bullying, lone parenting and suicide.
Although it has strong language and adult themes that will offend some viewers, About a Boy holds a face up to my generation and asks us to think about who we are and what could give greater meaning to our lives now, and in the future.
