Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > About a Boy (2002)
About a Boy
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

About a Boy (2002) More at IMDb Pro »

Photos (see all 46 | slideshow) Videos

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   38,794 votes
Writers (WGA):
Nick Hornby (novel)
Peter Hedges (screenplay) ...
more
Release Date:
17 May 2002 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Growing up has nothing to do with age.
Plot:
Based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel, About A Boy is the story of a cynical, immature young man who is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 19 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
'Vera Drake' Steals British Film Award Ceremony (From WENN. 8 February 2005)
Weisz Turns Down Playboy (From WENN. 9 January 2005)
User Comments:
Effective, Satisfying Film more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Hugh Grant ... Will

Nicholas Hoult ... Marcus
Sharon Small ... Christine
Madison Cook ... Imogen
Jordan Cook ... Imogen
Nicholas Hutchison ... John
Ryan Speechley ... Barney
Joseph Speechley ... Barney

Toni Collette ... Fiona
Natalia Tena ... Ellie (as Nat Gastiain Tena)
Laura Kennington ... Ellie's Friend
Tanika Swaby ... Ellie's Friend
Peter McNicholl ... Ellie's Friend
Christopher Webster ... Ellie's Friend
Ben Ridgeway ... Lee, the Bully
more
Create a character page for: ?

People Viewing This Page May Also Be Interested In These Sponsored Links (what's this?)


Additional Details

Also Known As:
About a Boy oder: Der Tag der toten Ente (Germany)
Pour un garçon (France)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some thematic elements.
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
UK | USA | France | Germany
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 18% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
At the beginning of the film Marcus says he would be able to take care of his mum (Toni Collette) if he were Haley Joel Osment. Toni Collette played Haley Joel Osment's mother in The Sixth Sense (1999). more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Will doesn't fit in the coffee holder in the espresso machine correctly, but still manages to make a cup of coffee. more
Quotes:
Lindsey's Mum: 'Shake your Ass'... is he Moroccan? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Holiday (2006) more
Soundtrack:
Zoo Station more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
49 out of 57 people found the following comment useful:-
Effective, Satisfying Film, 6 June 2002
9/10
Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon

Being afforded a life of independent means can be a blessing in some regards, perhaps, but it can also be the definitive test of one's character. If one chooses to use such a situation toward altruistic ends, or at the very least a venture that can provide some personal fulfillment, it says something about who that person is. On the other hand, if one squanders the opportunity on a totally self-absorbed, shallow existence, it says even more. And while taking the latter path may provide some interesting moments, it's a cosmetically created, external bubble that serves no other purpose than covering up an empty life, and sooner or later-- to anyone with even a modicum of intelligence-- that bubble is bound to burst; and when it finally happens, when the wake-up call comes, how one responds to it is the ultimate test of character, which is what happens to a such a man in `About A Boy,' directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, and starring Hugh Grant.

As far as Will Freeman (Grant) is concerned, he has the perfect life; he lives comfortably, if not extravagantly, on the income provided by a certain kind of inheritance. On the surface, at least, he's happy. Admittedly, however, he's the very epitome of `shallow,' who makes a conscious and concerted effort at avoiding any commitment in relationships, or even attempting to accomplish or achieve anything at all. He merely takes from life, gives absolutely nothing back and has always been content with it. But of late, his relationships have become a bit `sticky.' Women are becoming too demanding, the break-ups too messy. He needs a new conquest, a relationship in which he can flex his shallowness anew, with a woman who will give him everything and demand nothing in return.

Fortuitous circumstances provide him with just what he's looking for; fortuitous, however, in a way he doesn't realize, as it leads to a relationship through which he encounters a young boy, Marcus (Nicholas Hoult). And it's a meeting that is destined to have an enormous impact on his life, as Marcus becomes the catalyst that changes Will's entire perspective. For the first time, Will begins to question who he is, and what he's doing-- or not doing-- with his life.

Telling this story (adapted for the screen by Peter Hedges and the Weitz brothers, from the novel by Nick Hornby) presented a challenge to the filmmakers, in that it's nothing really new; the history of the cinema is filled with stories of individual epiphanies, many along the same lines as this one (recently, `The Kid,' with Bruce Willis, for example). So a fresh approach and presentation, including the kind of performances they could extract from their actors, was essential for this film to attain any distinction whatsoever. Which it does, and splendidly. And, moreover, they succeed on all fronts. The screenplay is intelligent, and the characters-- especially Will and Marcus' mom, Fiona (Toni Collette)-- are convincingly well developed. With Will, there is no sudden leap into who he becomes by the end of the film; it comes though a gradual recognition and realization of who he is, after first establishing a starting point from which the character can grow. The same is true of Fiona. There's detours and set-backs which-- as in real life-- prevent a direct journey from point A to point B, and create the proverbial sticky wicket along the way. Weitz and Weitz set a good pace, and most importantly, manage to give their film some real heart without lapsing into any melodramatic, maudlin sentimentality. Rather, the sentiments and situations they express are real and believable, and presented in such a way as to afford the audience any number of elements to which they can genuinely relate.

As Will, Hugh Grant gives arguably his best performance ever. In some respects, Will is similar to other characters Grant has created (most notably Daniel in `Bridget Jones's Diary'), but there's a depth to Will he's never previously managed to achieve, and without question this is his most three-dimensional, fully developed character yet. Grant has a natural charm and a charismatic screen presence, but his presentation is often tinged with a bit of pretentiousness that is entirely absent here. He does an especially nice job of effecting Will's transition in very real and credible terms, and by the end, it's obvious that this is a side of Grant we have not seen before; with this role, he has effectively expanded his range as an actor. In the final analysis, it's a performance with real substance, and it makes Will a truly memorable character.

The young Hoult brings Marcus convincingly to life, as well, with an extremely natural performance, in which he commendably manages to avoid the trappings of stereotype into which this character could easily have fallen. Some credit must go to his directors, of course, but it's Hoult who makes it especially believable in the way he responds, for instance, to certain given situations that typically seem to evoke a particular reaction when being depicted on screen (his rather introspective response to the taunts of his school mates, for example; quite different than what is usually portrayed in film). And in their scenes together, Grant and Hoult strike a chord of reality that finally assures the overall success of this film.

The supporting cast includes Rachel Weisz (Rachel), Isabel Brook (Angie), Sharon Small (Christine), Victoria Smurfit (Suzie) and Nat Gastiain Tena (Ellie). Entertaining, as well as insightful, `About A Boy' gives a truly fresh perspective to an element of the human condition that has been explored before, but rarely as effectively. The Weitz Brothers make the subject of their film accessible to a wide audience, and in a way that is engaging and satisfying. This film is going to be a pleasant surprise to many who see it, in that it delivers a whole lot more than most would expect. And that's the magic of the movies. 9/10.





Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for About a Boy (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The talent show. tomboftheunknownsoldier
Now this is how you c*ck up a good book! carmencapel69
Extremely under-rated movie psumaterialsguy
Useless mum ivo123-1
Ellie? rebecca243
I can't believe... miss_vixen16
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Broken Flowers The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Bridget Jones's Diary Sideways Peyton Place
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.