If you want to see a movie that will make you feel better when the last credits roll, About a Boy may be the movie that will do the trick. It features Hugh Grant in his best role to date, with some help from a terrific cast, a clever screen play, and a remarkably unsentimental story even though it does feature a young English boy as one of the main characters. So if you are tired of Harry Potter and Frodo, and want to see a story that has the ring of truth, I recommend this film.

The movie is based on a novel by Nick Hornby, whose background as a teacher in English public schools creates the setting for the film. The screen play was written by Peter Hedges, and Paul and Chris Weitz. One or the other of The Weitz brother have written several comedies, none of which I personally like, including American Pie, the second of the Nutty Professor movies (which I loathed) Down to Earth, and Antz, which was a bit more amusing. Paul Weitz also contributed to Iron Giant, which elevates his stature a bit. Paul is 4 years older than Chris. Peter Hedges did the screen play and novel for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. So if the screen play is cleverly done, and the script is smart and funny, I suspect we know who really deserves much of the credit, but I could be wrong.


FILM ELEMENTS

DIRECTING

The Weitz Brothers worked on American Pie, Down to Earth and this movie, which is by far superior to the other efforts. Feel free to disagree, but personally, teenage angst no longer does it for me. This movie has a broader appeal and with some exceptional performances by Hugh Grant, and Toni Colette, this movie becomes instead of foolishness, a movie with a heart.

I will give these guys credit for knowing what they want, something you will pick up if you take the time to listen to the feature length commentary. The movie is well edited, and although there is a bit of moping about that slows the pacing down, it never slows for long. They seem reasonably intelligent despite all evidence to the contrary. Whether it is the dawn of a new era, or a fluke, it remains to be seen.

CINEMATOGRAPHY and EDITING


The setting is London, in many different dress modes. It would take a native to know, but for the most part, it felt right. I like the way the movie was shot especially for being able to isolate the characters in a crowd. The two major sets were Will’s bachelor pad, with a guy- like spare quality, which also manages to say that he is not hurting for cash-and Marcus /Fiona’s flat, which looks and feels more full of passion, more organic. The understated (but obvious) organic feel of Fiona’s apartment is nicely contrasted with the cool appearance of Will’s apartment. The cinematographer is experienced and the shots are competent, but there is nothing flashy about the photography. And it never has the feel of a big studio production-it is much more like life.

Some of the overhead shots were quite nice. The most impressive single shot of the movie occurs at the turning point, and the image is a doorknob, with the young boy and the man reflected in the polished surface. This event is the first indication that we are about to move from a clever comedy of manners to something more serious. Keep your eye on the fish tank in Will’s apartment for a single image which will represent the changes occurring in Will’s life.


The editing was a real asset to this film. It was extremely well done. Jump cuts were used effectively, and the repeating themes are nicely interspersed.

STORY

I have not read the book, and frankly , pointed comparisons of book to movie get a little annoying at times. The simple fact is this. What works as literature, often does not translate cinematically. And once the words become pictures, the work and story itself also changes, as it does once again as it is seen and assimilated by audiences. The changes in this book to movie are probably significant, but it doesn’t matter to me. The movie simply has to be able to stand alone.

The story is not a sentimental or cute story. The mother of the kid tries to kill herself. And the boy, for all his charm, is annoying enough to make you almost want to treat him badly yourself.
The man is not very likable, although he has charm, and he is funny. But here we go, with two fairly unattractive people, an earnest boy, who desperately weaned s to “have a back up” in his life, and Will, who doesn’t want anything permanent in his life, least of all children, become good friends in spite of themselves. I like the story because it truly lacks any simpering sentimentality, and becomes authentic because it ends as a possibility, not a fairy tale. It is the perfect script for Hugh Grant, although his performance would have been less impressive without the supporting cast.


MUSIC

Music is so important in this film that it is almost a separate character. It is interwoven, enhances, and embraces the plot and occasionally surfaces as part of the story. This is the first move score for Damon Gough, otherwise known as Badly Drawn Boy, of Twisted Nerve Records.




THE PLOT

Meet Will, a man 38 years old who has never been married, and never had a job. His occupation is chasing women, and his biggest problem is how to spend his time, He lives off royalties from a catchy Christmas carol written by his father in the fifties. His life is about to change.

Meet Marcus, a young boy approaching adolescence, who is a kid who has been raised by his mother, a sort of aging hippy vegetarian, who teaches music therapy . He is kind of a geek, has no friends, and nobody likes him. He has the odd habit of breaking into song, without being aware that he is doing it.

Will has mostly been the man who breaks it off with women before they can get serious. One day a young mother breaks it off with him, and he sees this as a marvelous opportunity to meet sexy young women with small children, who won’t be anxious to have a serious relationship.

He starts going to a Single parents meetings, pretending to have a two year old son, named Ned. On his first date with a pretty blonde, Suzie, she brings a friend’s young boy with her, to give his mom, Fiona a break. This young man is of course, Marcus.

After Marcus accidentally kills a duck with some of his mum’s home made bread (by lobbing the loaf into the pond, and knocking it dead) he goes home to find his mother nearly lost to a suicide attempt.

Will of course, wants no part of this, but Marcus decides that Will would be good for his mother, that having a boyfriend would be just the thing to cheer her up. The truth is he has a hard time facing the possibility that she would attempt suicide again. So he insinuates himself into good for nothing Will’s life. Now mind you, it won’t be easy. But things are about to change for both these boys. Sure this movie is about a boy. You have to decide which boy, though, this movie is about.


CAST /PERFORMANCES

Hugh Grant as Will. Grant is finally playing a character that creates a human being of him. The boyish charm is still present in the 42 year old actor, but it is almost as if he is finally being allowed to show another side. I first noticed the trend in Bridget Jones Diary, where he plays a character something like the one he is at the start of this movie. To his credit, he continues with the comedy and the charm, which is his particular gift, and moves into something a little deeper and much better. He is not a very likable character, to start with, and only becomes so when he is forced to confront the meaning of his life. His world has expanded considerably by the end of the movie. He has many funny scenes in this movie, and is able to be self critical in presenting this character. But he has a few serious scenes as well, expressing his annoyance with the interruptions of his self-centered life, and his two scenes with Colette (in confrontation) may be the best of his career. My favorite scene, however, is when he grabs a guitar and joins Marcus on stage. Instead of saving the day to prevent total humiliation for Marcus, he instead shares it, as well as providing support got the touching sacrifice the boy is making in front of God and everybody, for his mother.

Toni Colette-as Fiona, the mother of Marcus. This is such a remarkable actress, and I have sung her praises before (in my last review, in fact). This performance of a woman who is depressed (and the reasons for it are not clear, as they often are not in real life) and suicidal despite her best intentions, is just astounding. Yes she is an odd duck, and dresses badly, a trait she passes to her son. She and Grant are wonderful together, and not at all romantically. They simply manage to bring something out in their interactions with each other, that is very real, very powerful.
I like the ending devised for her, but won’t spoil it for you.

Nicolas Hoult as Marcus-This boy, 12 years old at the filming, is actually pretty good. He is a bit awkward, and occasionally stiff, but this is his first major film role, although it is his fifth appearance on screen. He acts , not surprisingly, just like the twelve year old odd ball that he is supposed to be. He was exceptional in his interactions with Hugh Grant. And since Grant is uncomfortable around children, some credit must go to both performers. His most touching and memorable moment is when he begins to sing a capella, to an auditorium full of jeering classmates. Lovely voice, really. Too much makeup, though.

Rachel Weisz as Rachel, a love interest and possibly the most important of Will’s life to that date. She has a 12 year old son as well, although that is not the thing that brings her and Will together to start with. Probably best known to American audiences as the female lead in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. She has some extensive stage work under her belt. She is intelligent, beautiful and interesting in this role, and a mum-my as well

Sharon Small as Christine-this is Will’s friend or sister, I am not sure which. She serves as the grounding for the character, the first to point out to him in no uncertain terms, exactly what she thinks of the meaning of his life. She, we realize, has absolutely no doubts about the meaning of her own life. It is important, I think to have one immutable character, and this pretty blonde actress is the one. She has done a lot of work on TV, playing a female detective.

Victoria Smurfit as Suzie. This is an important but smallish role in the movie, as she is the one who brings Will and Marcus in contact with each other. She also is able to confront (and does) Will with the lies he told to join the single parents group. She is another of those grounded characters who need experience no personal growth for this film, although her character is a strong one. Very pretty, the daughter of big money in Dublin, she has been in several movies, none of which I have seen. It may be important to note the contrast between her persona and appearance, to the serious girlfriend, Rachel. Another cute thing to notice is that any of the women seen in scenes where they are berating Will, are wearing red, the psychological color of anger.

Augustus Prew as Ali, Rachel’s angry son, who doesn’t want his mother to date Will. He takes it out on Marcus, something Marcus seems to expect. He blows up in a remarkably convincing way, at the drop of a hat. Has been a regular on a British TV series.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION

I hope this is a new direction for the Weitz brothers. This a great little bittersweet comedy, full of heart and witty exchanges. The performances are believable, and the movie feels like it is entirely possible, supported by a well written screen play, and good dialog . Is there a message? Sure...It is About a Boy! See for yourself.




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older