About a Boy
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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.
What critics thought
Critics broadly celebrated this adaptation as a sharply observed comedy-drama that avoids easy sentiment, with Hugh Grant's performance receiving the most sustained attention — reviewers argued it revealed a genuinely mature actor beneath the rom-com surface. The film was widely praised for preferring awkward honesty over tidy resolution, though the warmth of popular reception suggests audiences connected with it more straightforwardly than the more wary critics did.
“The acid comedy of Grant's performance carries the film [and he] gives this pleasing heartbreaker the touch of gravity it needs”
Rolling Stone
“the Cary Grant department is understaffed, and Hugh Grant shows here that he is more than a star, he is a resource”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Hugh Grant has grown up, holding on to his lightness and witty cynicism but losing the stuttering sherry-club mannerisms that were once his signature. In doing so, he has blossomed into the rare actor who can play a silver-tongued sleaze with a hidden inner decency”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“[The film] gets most of its laughs from the evolved expertise of Hugh Grant in playing characters that audiences enjoy seeing taken down a peg or two as a punishment for philandering and womanising and simply being too handsome for words—and with an English accent besides. In the end, the film comes over as a messy delight, thanks to the skill, generosity and good-sport, punching-bag panache of Mr. Grant's performance”
Andrew Sarris·The New York Observer
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Paul WeitzDirector
Chris WeitzDirector
Hugh GrantWill Freeman
Nicholas HoultMarcus Brewer
Toni ColletteFiona Brewer
Rachel WeiszRachel
Natalia TenaEllie
Victoria SmurfitSuzie
Augustus PrewAli
Sharon SmallChristine
Nicholas HutchisonJohn
Nick HornbyWriter
Peter HedgesWriter
Remi AdefarasinCinematographyAbout a Boy
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.
What critics thought
Critics broadly celebrated this adaptation as a sharply observed comedy-drama that avoids easy sentiment, with Hugh Grant's performance receiving the most sustained attention — reviewers argued it revealed a genuinely mature actor beneath the rom-com surface. The film was widely praised for preferring awkward honesty over tidy resolution, though the warmth of popular reception suggests audiences connected with it more straightforwardly than the more wary critics did.
“The acid comedy of Grant's performance carries the film [and he] gives this pleasing heartbreaker the touch of gravity it needs”
Rolling Stone
“the Cary Grant department is understaffed, and Hugh Grant shows here that he is more than a star, he is a resource”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Hugh Grant has grown up, holding on to his lightness and witty cynicism but losing the stuttering sherry-club mannerisms that were once his signature. In doing so, he has blossomed into the rare actor who can play a silver-tongued sleaze with a hidden inner decency”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“[The film] gets most of its laughs from the evolved expertise of Hugh Grant in playing characters that audiences enjoy seeing taken down a peg or two as a punishment for philandering and womanising and simply being too handsome for words—and with an English accent besides. In the end, the film comes over as a messy delight, thanks to the skill, generosity and good-sport, punching-bag panache of Mr. Grant's performance”
Andrew Sarris·The New York Observer
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Paul WeitzDirectorChris WeitzDirectorHugh GrantWill FreemanNicholas HoultMarcus BrewerToni ColletteFiona BrewerRachel WeiszRachelNatalia TenaEllieVictoria SmurfitSuzieAugustus PrewAliSharon SmallChristineNicholas HutchisonJohnNick HornbyWriterPeter HedgesWriterRemi AdefarasinCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy