About a Boy
An immature man is taught how to be a grown-up by an alienated youth.
About a Boy triumphs as the quintessential tale of a young, awkwardly adjusted child, Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), who becomes accepted by his peers of the cliquey private school under the tutelage of apathetic loner, Will (Hugh Grant). But at the heart of it all, the cynical and stubborn Will, in turn, learns how to be mature by this youngster. The two are juxtaposed and ultimately brought together, creating a symbiotic relationship and allowing them to grow into the best possible people they can be.
Hugh Grant is superb as his British charm is actually appealing, displaying a range from comical to actually letting his emotions come through in dramatically pivotal turns. He glows as he fits the stewing mold of a materialistic man trying to fill the void of emptiness in his self-proclaimed, perfect life. Will is a self-absorbed jerk at first, but Marcus’s subtle teachings allow Will to venture out of his island castle.
About a Boy is classic in its teachings and themes demonstrated by a steady progression of the story in London and excellent acting. The simple story is enough to keep us hooked with its swaying undulation moving us from joy to tears. Hugh Grant gives the best performance of his career as the movie rides on his hinges, sprinkling cinematic magic along its path.
The witty and cleverly adapted script even earned director Peter Hedges and the Weitz brothers an Oscar nomination for their writing. Residing behind the perfectly comfortable character of Will that Grant creates, there are a few actresses that have marvelous interplay with him and Marcus. They would be Toni Collette, playing Fiona, Marcus’s mom, who is stricken with depression and suicidal thoughts, that doesn’t help the troubled Marcus. And of course, the ravishing Rachel Weisz has a small but defining role as one of Will’s true romances.
About a Boy is not only entertaining, but more than satisfying and effective. It’s quaint and freshly examines a stratified example of the human condition. For a relatively small film, it’s applicable and can be quite receptive to wide audiences. You’ll be sure to be engaged by the excellent blend of comedy and drama enveloped around the world of the charismatic screen presence of Hugh Grant.
Written by: John Berkowitz
Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 24-Nov-2008
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