Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Available on Blu-ray Disc (Region B)UK/USA/France 2002 English (Colour); Comedy/Drama/Romance (Universal/StudioCanal/Tribeca/Working Title); 101 minutes (12 certificate)Crew includes: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz (Directors); Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz (Screenwriters, adapting Novel by Nick Hornby **** [8/10]); Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Brad Epstein, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner (Producers); Nick Hornby, Lynn Harris (Executive Producers); Remi Adefarasin (Cinematographer); Jim Clay (Production Designer); Nick Moore (Editor); Badly Drawn Boy (Composer)Cast includes: Hugh Grant (Will Freeman), Toni Collette (Fiona Brewer), Rachel Weisz (Rachel), Nicholas Hoult (Marcus Brewer), Isabel Brook (Angie), Sharon Small (Christine), Victoria Smurfit (Suzie)Academy Award nomination: Adapted Screenplay; BAFTA nominations (2): Supporting Actress (Collette), Adapted Screenplay; Golden Globe nominations (2): Picture - Musical/Comedy, Actor - Musical/Comedy (Grant)"Growing up has nothing to do with age."During attempts to meet available women, a shallow, irresponsible bachelor (Grant) reluctantly strikes up a friendship with the unhappy, misfit son (Hoult) of an eccentric, suicidal hippie (Collette), which is jeopardised when he unexpectedly falls in love.Not your typical British romcom, as the important relationship here is between man and boy, and what they learn from (and teach) one another, with a never-better Grant clearly relishing his newly-nurtured caddish ways first demonstrated in BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY.Collette also shines in a difficult role that could have been played unsympathetically, while the dual narration works well in this excellent, largely faithful (except for the ending) adaptation of Hornby's 1998 novel.Blu-ray Extras: None. ½ (1/10)

We can say anything about Hugh Grant, but not that he is bad at his job. I believe this is his most mature, perhaps the best performance of his career. We see something that we did not have a chance to see before in Grant's career. We are able feel Will's progress from a completely hopeless eternal child, to the man who finally decided to participate in the life around him. Markus is a compelling portrait of all of us at some point in life, when we were so lost that, not only we did not have the answers, but we were not even aware of the issues. The movie is spicy, but not because they play on humor but because they are extremely honest about the people and their weaknesses.

This adaptation by Brothers Weitz of the Nick Horny novel of the same name is a very refreshing comedy-drama that successfully uses a double voice-over narration, one of a man who hasn't quite grown up (Grant) and the other of a boy who has to grow up too quickly (Hoult). Toni Collette received several nominations for her supporting role, but the substance of her character is not quite apparent; while Rachel Weisz's subplot comes together and undone a little too easily. If this film were set during 1993–1994 like it was in the book, the overall story would have had more significance. Still, while a little too modern for its own good, ABOUT A BOY is undeniably entertaining (and even, ugh, a little cute) and without a doubt worth remembering.*** (out of four)

About a Boy is a 2002 comedy-drama film co-written and directed by brothers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. It is an adaptation of the 1998 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The film stars Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Rachel Weisz. The film at times uses double voice-over narration, when the audience hears both Will's and Marcus's thoughts. Will is a 36-year-old underachiever with a fear of commitment that leads him to seek out relationships with single mothers, on the assumption that they are more desperate. However, plans go awry when he befriends with Marcus, the weird 12-year-old son of his latest target. Soon, Will and Marcus become friends, and as Will teaches Marcus how to be a cool kid, Marcus helps Will finally to grow up.