Directors: Chris and Paul Weitz
Writer: Nick Hornby
Released: 2002
Starring: Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult
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I am in no way a fan of Hugh Grant. He seems to only play one character and that character appears to be exactly what he is like in real life. Having said that…
He is in some pretty wicked films like Bridget Jones, Notting Hill, but the most impressive being this one: About A Boy.
It’s about Will Freeman (Hugh Grant) who has never needed to work and is a professional womanizer. The parallel story is about poor Marcus (Nicholas Hoult) and how he deals with his mother (Toni Collette) who is suffering from depression, all the while having a tough time at school.
Will thinks that having no family and friends is liberating until he meets the friendless Marcus who is looking for family.
It’s such a breath of fresh air because Hugh Grant keeps his typecast role of the ‘handsome’ Englishman yet it is intermingled with Toni Collette’s role as an incredibly sad and hopeless character.
This film is another melancholy coming-of-age film with sparks of comedy through it. If you enjoyed Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, The Way Way Back or Scent of a Woman, you will adore this movie for sure.
This is my new favourite!
Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10
NZ Film Freak 