Movie #38 -- About A Boy

Title: About A Boy

Director: Chris Wietz & Paul Weitz

Release Year: 2002

Plot Summary: A selfish, middleaged man named Will (portrayed by Hugh Grant) lives off of the royalties of his father's one hit (a clever ditty ditty called 'Santa's Super Sleigh'). His life takes a strange and dramatic turn when he meets Marcus (Nicholas Hoult).

Thoughts: Based on Nick Hornby's book of the same name, this movie shows Hugh Grant as, more or less, an ass. And it actually works -- he gets to play a character for once, as opposed to the charmingly befuddled yet loveable English oaf he is often typecast as. Quite a good coming of age movie (not nearly as effective as, say, 'Garden State' or 'Igby Goes Down') but very good nonetheless. A strong supporting cast of Rachael Weisz and Toni Collette round out this fine film.

Rating (0-10): 8

Recomendations: Worth picking up for... oh, I don't know... $11 or so. Good for anyone interested in the whole "what does life mean?" thing.