By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Chris Weitz | Paul Weitz
Starring: Hugh Grant | Natalia Tena | Nicholas Hoult | Rachel Weisz | Sharon Small | Toni Collette | Victoria Smurfit
Country: united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0264616
Laura says: “ABOUT A BOY establishes Will and Marcus by intercutting between their lives until it brings them together. Young Nicholas Hoult immediately gains our sympathy. He’s terrified of being abandoned by his mother, which makes him brave enough to speak up about the important things, while being a pushover about the things most other kids care about. It’s the lack of these kid things – cool sneakers, the right music for the school talent show – that Will can supply. Grant is certainly amusing, but the very hollowness of the character he plays keeps him at arms length. He’s not really a good guy, yet never really awful either, making the film a bit anemic overall. When he’s forced to admit to Rachel that he’s a blank, one can only agree.” 3 1/2 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/aboutaboy.htm”
Nathaniel T. says: “Fun, smart, but ultimately slight. Hugh Grant is wonderful (and nomination-worthy) as the main character, and Toni Collette is equally as winning playing a fully formed character that could have been brushed off as a hippie-ditz. Nice screenplay with disappointing ending. Good thing is that it grows in stature with time.” 3 1/2 cats