Rich man’s Big Daddy, replacing Adam Sandler’s raunchy humor with some more refined dialogue and plot
★★★☆☆
About A Boy is a 2002 film directed by Chris and Paul Weitz. Hugh Grant stars as a Will, an independently wealthy slacker with no job and no cares. He prides himself on having no ties to the world: the man who is an island. Nicholas Hoult, currently best known for being a crazy chrome warboy in Mad Max, plays Marcus, the titular boy being raised by his single mother, a depressed vegetarian played by Toni Collette. Marcus is smothered by his mother into being exactly like herself. She’s the type of person that I truly love to hate: a Gen-Xer.
During the course of the movie, Will and Marcus go on parallel journeys. They confront and overcome their roadblocks to entering the outside world. Will lets his guard down and begins to see the outside world not as an encumbrance to his selfish lifestyle, but as something to define himself by. Marcus learns to connect with Will (someone other than his mother) and is then able to make friendships at school.
The film utilizes a familiar plot about self-discovery, but the dialogue (and internal monologue) are so well done that it keeps you interested. The biggest problem I had was that I found myself guessing the plotline well before it happened. For example, in any personal growth movie, the childish main character is going to have to prove themselves a changed man and hopefully be embarrassed or otherwise forced to face their fears. So as soon as a singing contest is created as a plot device, you know it’s going to end with Will being laughed at while sticking up for Marcus. Which is it exactly what happens. Also, it turns out that Will learns more from Marcus than he expected! Even though Marcus is a boy! WHO WOULD’VE GUESSED!?
Overall, It’s a decent film full of clever, funny dialogue. If you’re sitting down with friends to see it, don’t object. Will’s internal monologue is especially entertaining. The film includes voiceovers and freeze-frames, which could have been cheesy, but really worked for me. Will’s wealth is a problem with the movie, for me. If I was somehow granted the wealth he had, then yeah I would do what he does all day, which is to say nothing. Unfortunately, I’m not rich and it made it hard to relate to Will. I mean, how many people in this world have never had a job.
Next Tuesday, Josh will be posting a review of Leon: The Professional. I’ve assigned Josh this movie for two reasons: 1) I think it’s my favorite Gary Oldman performance of all time. He’s so damn mesmerizing. 2) Despite Gary Oldman being the best at everything, I don’t know how I feel about this film, mostly because Leon himself doesn’t do much more than creep me out. Basically, I’d like to get Josh’s opinion so I can steal it and use it to appear witty at parties.
cinemateur 