Luke
stu-kicks
CibbuanoAbout a Boy
December 26th 2006 23:01
I've been keen to see 'About a Boy' for a while, being a fan of the other two films I've seen adapted from Nick Hornby's novels (High Fidelity, Fever Pitch). The 'boy' of the title has a double-meaning. On one level it refers to the actual boy featured, a troubled 13 year old named Marcus (Hoult). On another level it refers to Will (Grant), a late 30s slacker who refuses to grow up. The film starts off by tracking Will's charming yet anti-social exploits in picking up women and generally lounging about. Eventually his path crosses with Marcus', an odd boy who lives with his suicidal hippy mother.
This is a bit of a chick's flick I suppose, but it's written by a bloke for blokes. Argh! Who am I kidding? I guess it's a film that appeals to anyone who's experience life in all it's depressing and humourous glory. I love this film. It's funny, touching and completely un-cliched. Hugh Grant once again proves his mastery of comic timing and dramatic/character acting. Toni Collette is more than adequate as Marcus' mother. It's something to be said about the script or writing, that none of the characters are stereotypes or cardboard cutouts - each role, no matter how small, is fully rounded and completely human.
Anyway, there isn't much else to say. The soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy deserves a mention because it's fairly memorable and effectively utilised, even though I generally don't dig that style of music. This is a brilliant film. It's something I'd like to own and watch again and again.
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