DramaComedyRomance

About a Boy

- Growing up has nothing to do with age.

Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.

Release Date : 2002-04-26

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal PicturesStudioCanalWorking Title FilmsTribeca Productions

Production Country : FranceUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Will Freeman

Original Name : Hugh Grant

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marcus Brewer

Original Name : Nicholas Hoult

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fiona Brewer

Original Name : Toni Collette

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rachel

Original Name : Rachel Weisz

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ellie

Original Name : Natalia Tena

Gender : Female

Character Name : Suzie

Original Name : Victoria Smurfit

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ali

Original Name : Augustus Prew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Christine

Original Name : Sharon Small

Gender : Female

Character Name : Imogen

Original Name : Madison Cook

Gender : Female

Character Name : Imogen

Original Name : Jordan Cook

Gender : Female

Character Name : John

Original Name : Nicholas Hutchison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barney

Original Name : Ryan Speechley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barney

Original Name : Joseph Speechley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lindsey

Original Name : Denise Stephenson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ellie's Friend

Original Name : Chris Webster

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angie

Original Name : Isabel Brook

Gender : Female

Character Name : Louie, Angie's Kid

Original Name : Orlando Thor Newman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bitter Ex-Girlfriend

Original Name : Paulette P. Williams

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bitter Ex-Girlfriend

Original Name : Susannah Doyle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bitter Ex-Girlfriend

Original Name : Fritha Goodey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bitter Ex-Girlfriend

Original Name : Delma Walsh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Will's Dad

Original Name : Peter Roy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lindsey's Mum

Original Name : Rosalind Knight

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cute Waitress

Original Name : Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hairdresser

Original Name : Joanne Petitt

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Cathy Murphy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Math Teacher

Original Name : Mark Heap

Gender : Male

Character Name : Skechers Shopgirl

Original Name : Claire Harman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Amnesty International Worker Tom

Original Name : Jason Salkey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amnesty International Worker

Original Name : Annabelle Apsion

Gender : Female

Character Name : Maitre D'

Original Name : Russell Barr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moira / SPAT

Original Name : Joyce Henderson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frances / SPAT

Original Name : Jenny Galloway

Gender : Female

Character Name : Caroline / SPAT

Original Name : Janine Duvitski

Gender : Female

Character Name : Simon Cosgrove

Original Name : Alex Kew

Gender : Male

Character Name : New Year's Eve Party Guest

Original Name : Murray Lachlan Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Candy Thrower

Original Name : Matthew James Thomas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Candy Thrower

Original Name : Aaron Keeling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Park Keeper

Original Name : Sidney Livingstone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Child in Supermarket

Original Name : Bethany Muir

Gender : Female

Character Name : Class Teacher

Original Name : Tessa Vale

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

It didn't kill me softly. Will is self centered and has cast off all his responsibilities. But during one of his more dubious scams to date single mothers, he is forced to reconsider his moral fibre after coming into contact with a 12 year old outcast named Marcus. Adapted from the massively popular book written by Nick Hornby ("Fever Pitch" & "High Fidelity") About A Boy easily translates well to the screen without truly breaking free of the modest premise. Oddly enough for such a British picture, this is directed by an American, Paul Weitz, who along with his brother Chris, brought the world "American Pie". It works, largely to the undervalued comic talents of one Hugh Grant (Will). I would go so far as to say that without Grant leading the film, this would have been a flop, all the highlights on offer are when Grant is on the screen. Expressive with his face and delivering his lines with a natural high, Grant nicely lures the audience into the less than admirable Will's hands. Which is quite a trick considering that Will is a morally dubious scum bag!. Nicholas Hoult (Marcus) is OK as child actors go, but here he is given far to much to do. Which is another reason why Grant is so important to the film being a success, he shoulders much of the emotional burden, letting Hoult breathe what life he can into poor young Marcus (worst hair cut on film ever). Solid support comes from Toni Collette and Rachael Weisz, and Weitz's direction is smooth and unobtrusive, with Badly Drawn Boy's score an integral part of the story. Yet as much as I enjoy the film myself, one still feels frustrated that it didn't turn out better than it did. A double handed narration from both lead characters intrudes on the flow of the plot, and the pay off is ultimately an "oh" moment. So to me it's an OK movie made into a good one courtesy of one of Britain's best light comedy actors. 7/10

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-04-18

"Will" (Hugh Grant) lives a life of leisure living off the royalties of a Christmas song written by his grandad. He dates a succession of women but usually neither party want much more than a quickie. He realises that all of the interesting people have grown up and into relationships, marriages and family life - so he decides that it's time for him to have a son too! An imaginary one. Then he encounters "Fiona" (Toni Collette) and her son "Marcus" (Nicholas Hoult) and they begin to bond a little - even if the boy does bring out his (and my) best Herod tendencies. Despite himself, "Will" isn't a complete waste of space and when a near tragedy strikes the life of the bullied "Marcus", the two start to bond over afternoon editions of "Countdown" on the television and slowly all concerned start to realise the benefits of family - shiny new trainers, warts and all. The dialogue is quite observationally witty here and as much of the story is told via a punchy narration from Grant and Hoult, we get an additional degree of honesty to their story that augments the acting quite amiably. Hoult is the star, no doubt about it. His characterisation of an increasingly savvy and persistent child is engaging to watch and though I really did struggle to get through the cheese-fest that is the conclusion I did rather find myself wanting an happy ending. It's easy to see why Grant was Hollywood material and here he effortlessly delivers a gentle feel-good film tinged with the odd bit of reality. One that still works well.

tmdb25796299

@tmdb25796299

2024-06-28

Really like this movie. Hugh Grant before he started playing himself.