Boyish womanizing Hugh Grant

ABOUT A BOY (2002)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

(Originally reviewed in 2002)

If Hugh Grant didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him. In my estimation, he is a modern-day Cary Grant with a touch of healthy cynicism and the heart of a skeptic when it comes to human relationships. Alas, in "About a Boy," he has found the perfect role of Will Freeman, a man who has still not grown up or matured beyond the stage of a boy looking for his status in life.

Will is a London womanizer, eager to meet any woman for one-night stands. He frequents clubs, restaurants and supermarkets in search of his next date, only to throw away the number of a disappointing date the next day. He has his trusty Macintosh computer, watches television, including videos and, best of all DVD's, and that is about it. This man has no life and no interests outside of picking up women and shopping for electronics. He does nothing, and he is nothing. Will lives off of royalties from the song "Santa's Super Sleigh," a song composed by his late father. In short, Will is content with what he has - he just needs women at his every convenience.

One day, he starts dating a woman who has a son. Will is not crazy about the notion, but she remarkably dumps him. He takes it well considering he was planning the same thing. But he realizes that women with children have a need for sexual pleasure and passion, so he goes to a single parents's group called SPAT, pretends to have a son and takes an interest in one blonde. Through a series of mishaps, Will becomes a paternal figure to the blonde's friend's son, Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a sweet kid who is bullied around in school and has aspirations to sing. Marcus also needs a father figure, and who better than someone who has nothing to do in his spare time.

Marcus's mother, Fiona (Toni Collette), is a mess. She bawls every morning and afternoon, attempts suicide, and dresses "like a Yeti," as Will observes. Fiona is happiest when she sings along with Marcus, but clearly another person is needed in this dour household. Is it Will? I will not tell. Suffice to say that the film does not travel to the predictable road we have traveled through before, though one can expect Will's life may change around at some point.

"About a Boy" is written and directed by Paul and Chris Weitz, both responsible for the hugely successful "American Pie." This film is a complete change from their gross-out comedy theatrics of sexual innuendos and pie jokes. For once, pre-teens are treated with some degree of sensitivity. Yes, sex and rap remain interests of these London kids but other things also enter their mind. In the case with Marcus, he needs a guardian who can take care of him and his poor mother.

Marcus may be a boy because he is still young, but Will has lots of growing up to do. Will has nothing in his life outside of a handsome flat and the latest technological gadgets and electronics (this is the first film I can recall seeing where DVD's are mentioned in such a carefree way). He is deceitful but never appearing less than sincere which I suspect is why women love him at first sight. He does after all catch the eye of Rachel (Rachel Weiz), a single mother who senses some good in this man, even if he lies about Marcus being his son.

The best scene-stealer of modern times is Hugh Grant, and he handles his double-takes and nuanced expressions of befuddlement and blinks of disbelief marvelously. I can think of no other actor that comes close to handling leading roles in romantic comedies better. From "Four Weddings and a Funeral" to "Notting Hill," Grant delivers every ounce of Will's caddish persona, compassion and sincere insincerity in droves. It is an Oscar-caliber performance in my mind, one that will be surely overlooked because Grant does it so well that it is invisible. No matter - he is the new Cary Grant in every respect.

Kudos must also go to Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, a kid actor who is not insufferably cute or too clever as is frequently depicted. Hoult makes Marcus feel like a real kid going through a tough time with his mother and with school, and handling both situations with admirable restraint. I also enjoyed Toni Collete's small role as Fiona, and watching her sullen eyes made me feel pity for a woman ready to end her life and still see the joy and the tears of what she already has. Writing all of this makes me more and more amazed that the Weitz brothers actually wrote the screenplay.

"About a Boy" ends rather abruptly, and the last two sequences involving an embarrassing rendition of "Killing Me Softly" at a school assembly and the other involving a neat little wrap-up of Will's problems, smack of rushed resolutions for characters whose lives are far more complicated than they seem. However, ten years from now, when people ask which films will best reflect lonely bachelor men of today, I have no doubt that "About a Boy" will be mentioned. Will's life needed some changes, and Marcus has embraced and seen through this man and his isolation. If a kid cannot even understand how someone can do nothing, then there may be hope for men like Will indeed.