Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
Hugh Grant
Will Freeman
Nicholas Hoult
Marcus Brewer
Toni Collette
Fiona Brewer
Rachel Weisz
Rachel
Natalia Tena
Ellie
Victoria Smurfit
Suzie
Augustus Prew
Ali
Sharon Small
Christine
Madison Cook
Imogen
Jordan Cook
Imogen
Nicholas Hutchison
John
Ryan Speechley
Barney
Joseph Speechley
Barney
Denise Stephenson
Lindsey
Chris Webster
Ellie's Friend
Isabel Brook
Angie
Orlando Thor Newman
Louie, Angie's Kid
Paulette P. Williams
Bitter Ex-Girlfriend
Susannah Doyle
Bitter Ex-Girlfriend
Fritha Goodey
Bitter Ex-Girlfriend
Delma Walsh
Bitter Ex-Girlfriend
Peter Roy
Will's Dad
Rosalind Knight
Lindsey's Mum
Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre
Cute Waitress
Joanne Petitt
Hairdresser
Cathy Murphy
Nurse
Mark Heap
Math Teacher
Claire Harman
Skechers Shopgirl
Jason Salkey
Amnesty International Worker Tom
Annabelle Apsion
Amnesty International Worker
Russell Barr
Maitre D'
Joyce Henderson
Moira / SPAT
Jenny Galloway
Frances / SPAT
Janine Duvitski
Caroline / SPAT
Alex Kew
Simon Cosgrove
Murray Lachlan Young
New Year's Eve Party Guest
Matthew James Thomas
Candy Thrower
Aaron Keeling
Candy Thrower
Sidney Livingstone
Park Keeper
Bethany Muir
Child in Supermarket
Tessa Vale
Class Teacher
Director, Screenplay
Chris Weitz
Director, Screenplay
Paul Weitz
Novel, Screenplay
Nick Hornby
Screenplay
Peter Hedges
March 22, 2020
7
It didn't kill me softly. Will is self centered and has cast off all his responsibilities. But during one of his more dubious scams to date single mothers, he is forced to reconsider his moral fibre after coming into contact with a 12 year old outcast named Marcus.
Adapted from the massively popular book written by Nick Hornby ("Fever Pitch" & "High Fidelity") About A Boy easily translates well to the screen without truly breaking free of the modest premise. Oddly enough for such a British picture, this is directed by an American, Paul Weitz, who along with his brother Chris, brought the world "American Pie". It works, largely to the undervalued comic talents of one Hugh Grant (Will). I would go so far as to say that without Grant leading the film, this would have been a flop, all the highlights on offer are when Grant is on the screen. Expressive with his face and delivering his lines with a natural high, Grant nicely lures the audience into the less than admirable Will's hands. Which is quite a trick considering that Will is a morally dubious scum bag!.
Nicholas Hoult (Marcus) is OK as child actors go, but here he is given far to much to do. Which is another reason why Grant is so important to the film being a success, he shoulders much of the emotional burden, letting Hoult breathe what life he can into poor young Marcus (worst hair cut on film ever). Solid support comes from Toni Collette and Rachael Weisz, and Weitz's direction is smooth and unobtrusive, with Badly Drawn Boy's score an integral part of the story. Yet as much as I enjoy the film myself, one still feels frustrated that it didn't turn out better than it did. A double handed narration from both lead characters intrudes on the flow of the plot, and the pay off is ultimately an "oh" moment. So to me it's an OK movie made into a good one courtesy of one of Britain's best light comedy actors. 7/10