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Cast: 

Story: 

In this adapation of Nick Hornby's book, Will (Hugh Grant) is an English playboy. He does not work because one song about Christmas written by his father decades ago became a freak hit and is still spinning money and Will is living comfortably off the royalty generated by it. Will takes refuge behind the old saying "every man is an island" and leads a decadent existence involving T.V., movies and women. One day he stumbles upon the so-called truth that single moms make better girl friends because they are afraid of long-term commitments themselves and messy splits can be avoided. In search for single moms he joins SPAT (Single Parents Alone Together) under the false pretext of being the single father of a two-year-old. He meets Suzie (Victoria Smurfit) there and goes out on a picnic with her, except that besides her daughter, she also brings along her friend's son, Marcus ( Nicholas Hoult). Marcus' mother Fiona (Toni Collette) has suicidal tendencies but also loves her son. 

To save her, Marcus tries to get Will to spend some time with her. In the process, Marcus and Will begin to realize a few truths in each other's company, albeit reluctantly. Marcus even tries to help Will in a romantic entaglement with yet another single mom Rachel (Rachel Weisz). In the end, Will realizes how selfish he has been and turns over a new leaf. 

Review: 

There are two things that are striking about this movie. One, it has Hugh Grant at his best. Two, the humour is subtle and clean. Unlike most dark comedies that we see today, this movie proves once again that humour is possible without any cheap or vulgar gimmicks. It is not a surprise actually, because this is a British movie. The British humour has always been at a more intellectual level (remember "Yes Minister" and "Fawlty Towers"?). 

There are several scenes, specially those involving Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult, in the movie that are riotously funny. Hugh Grant has pulled off his best performance after "Four weddings and a Funeral". He was good in "Notting Hill", but in this movie he is just terrific. He excels in portraying the quiet, stoic hero, betraying his emotions in a barely perceptible manner even when he is shown up as a stumbling, fumbling person. 

Nicholas Hoult as Marcus the dogged and determined 12-year-old boy who wants to see his mother happy, even if it is at the cost of getting himself booed at the school music concert. Surprisingly, he more than holds his own against Hugh Grant in several scenes. Toni Collette (remember her as the mother in The Sixth Sense?) who plays Fiona, Marcus' mother, has managed a decent performance as the confused mother who at once loves her son and wants to commit suicide because she feels defeated by life. She is pretty impressive in some scenes, specially the one in the restaurant where she confronts Hugh Grant based on rushed misconceptions. 

Rachel Weisz ("The Mummy" and "Enemy at The Gates") as Rachel is the surprise packet of the movie. She displays a refreshing maturity in her role as the single mother of a teenager. She could easily have wrecked the scene where Will fumbles with the truth about himself, but she pulled it off beautifully just with those hazel eyes. Victoria Smurfit as Suzie, has a very small role and nothing to cry about. 

Despite many inconsistencies in the script and screenplay, Directors Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz have created a a must-see movie. Coming as it does, after the diet of those slapstick and vulgar comedies that we have been fed on in the recent past, "About a Boy" is a refreshingly funny comedy after quite a while. 

Final score: Three out of four stars.

Sam Walker (from Detroit)

published on 9th June  2002

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