About a Boy is a Christmas comedy-drama film directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz, who co-wrote the screenplay with novelist Peter Hedges. It is an adaptation of the 1998 novel 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 alternately Will's and Marcus's thoughts.
The film was theatrically released on April 26, 2002, by Universal Pictures. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Actors Hugh Grant and Toni Collette were nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award, respectively, for their performances. The film received positive reviews from critics and earned $130.5 million against a $30 million budget.
Synopsis[]
Will Freeman lives a carefree lifestyle without any responsibility or commitments, thanks to royalties left to him by his father's successful Christmas song. Although others view it poorly, he happily lives 'like an island'.
Will joins the Single Parents Alone Together (SPAT) community group under the pretense that he is the father to an imaginary child, but instead aims to meet single mothers. He meets Suzie who he is attracted to but also meets Marcus, the socially awkward son of one of Suzie's friends unexpectedly on a planned play-date. When Will and Suzie take Marcus home, they find Marcus' mother Fiona (who suffers bouts of depression) has attempted suicide and must rush to get her to the hospital in time.
Spying on him for a few days, Marcus soon discovers that Will's supposed toddler son does not exist, and uses it as leverage to blackmail him into going out with his mother to ensure Fiona doesn't get depressed again. Though Will shows no interest in Fiona, he begins to bond with Marcus and ultimately matures as an adult as a result. He helps Marcus to establish confidence, but this plan soon backfires, and Marcus accidentally reveals to his mom that Will is not a parent.
Fiona confronts Will and demands an explanation. He retorts that he is only building confidence in the boy because he is routinely humiliated and bullied at school. Though Will promises to cease further contact with Marcus, Fiona recognizes that Will's genuine interest in her son is good for both of them.
Will joins Marcus and Fiona for Christmas, giving Marcus a Mystikal album as well as a portable CD player. During an exchange with Suzie who knows by now of Will's earlier deception, Marcus stands up for Will, and in turn, also stands up to Fiona's confrontational methods. Will defuses the situation, citing an earlier incident where Marcus accidentally killed a duck with his mother's cottage loaf. Will is asked to stay for Christmas dinner, and he genuinely enjoys his day with Marcus' family.
As Marcus develops his first crush at school (Ellie), Will also meets Rachel, who he hits it off with. For the first time in his dating life, he begins to develop a serious interest in a woman. When Rachel begins to lose interest in him as he describes his lifestyle, he brings up Marcus. She responds as she is a single mother and believes Marcus is Will's son.
Will fails to correct her, so asks Marcus to pose as his son for a while. Marcus eventually encourages him to tell the truth to Rachel, but when he does it does not have the effect Will had hoped, and the relationship ends.
Fiona's depression returns, and Marcus goes to Will for help. Will, however, is still upset over his break-up and lashes out at him. He soon finds his previous life of self-dependence unfulfilling, missing Marcus's company. Will decides to reconcile with Marcus and talks to Fiona about her depression, but then finds out from her that he is due to perform at a school talent show that night, which would ultimately result in him being humiliated for the rest of his school life. As expected, Marcus' performance is greeted with brutal mockery, but Will joins in with a guitar, ultimately saving him from total humiliation.
By the next Christmas, Will and Rachel are together, with him having abandoned his previous lifestyle permanently. Will invites one of his Amnesty International colleagues to set him up with Fiona, and Marcus and Ellie remain good friends.
Songs[]
| Title(s) | Performed by |
|---|---|
| "Something to Talk About" "A Peak You Reach" "A Minor Incident" "Walking Out of Stride" "Silent Sigh" "Above You Below Me" "Donna and Blitzen" |
Badly Drawn Boy |
| "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (Music) | Keith & Matthew Strachan |
| "Rue De Noir" | The Guy Barker International Quintet |
| "Rainy Days and Mondays" | Alexandra Hill |
| "Santa's Super Sleigh" | Lindsay Benson |
| "Bitches and Friends" | DJ Rodriguez |
| "Killing Me Softly with His Song" | Toni Collette, Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult |
| "Zoo Station" | U2 |
| "Feliz Navidad" | José Feliciano |
| "Sussex Carol" | The Cambridge Singers |
| "Shake Ya Ass" | Mystikal / Pharrell Williams [uncredited] |
| "Avoidance Learning" | Dead Relative |
| "SuperThug" | N.O.R.E. |
Cast[]
| Actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Hugh Grant | Will Freeman |
| Nicholas Hoult | Marcus Brewer |
| Sharon Small | Christine |
| Madison & Jordan Cook | Imogen |
| Nicholas Hutchison | John |
| Ryan & Joseph Speechley | Barney |
| Toni Collette | Fiona Brewer |
| Nat Gastiain Tena | Ellie |
| Laura Kennington Tanika Swaby Peter McNicholl Christopher Webster |
Ellie's Friends |
| Ben Ridgeway | Lee |
| Jack Warren | Lee's Sidekick |
| Russell Barr | Maitre D' |
| Isabel Brook | Angie |
| Orlando Thor Newman | Angie's Kid |
| Paulette Williams Fritha Goodey Susannah Doyle Delma Walsh |
Bitter Ex-Girlfriends |
| Jonathan Franklin | Mark |
| John Kamal | Nicky |
| Tessa Vale | Class Teacher |
| Lorna Dallison | Woman in Supermarket |
| Bethany Muir | Child in Supermarket |
| Bruce Alexander | Husband in Supermarket |
| Joyce Henderson | Moira/SPAT |
| Jenny Galloway | Frances/SPAT |
| Janine Duvitski | Caroline/SPAT |
| Sue Hyams Maggie Kahal Lynn Askew Beverly Milward Danielle Harvey Anna Maria Credenzone Philip Sarah King Susan Ghamsary Edna Johnson |
SPAT Women |
| Victoria Smurfit | Suzie |
| Frog Stone | Mothercare Shop Assistant |
| Buddy Hunter Kristine Perrin Nathan & Rachael Perrin-Hunter |
Family Members in Mothercare Car Park |
| Amy & Rebecca Craven | Suzie's Baby Megan |
| Sidney Livingstone | Park Keeper |
| Cathy Murphy | Nurse |
| Joanne Petitt | Hairdresser |
| Jason Salkey | Amnesty International Worker Tom |
| Annabelle Apsion Matt Wilkinson |
Amnesty International Workers |
| Peter Roy | Will's Dad |
| Matthew Thomas Aaron Keeling Scott Charles |
Candy Throwers |
| Claire Harman | Skechers Shopgirl |
| Sian Martin | Cute Waitress |
| Clive | |
| Denise Stephenson | Lindsey |
| Rosaline Knight | Lindsey's Mum |
| Rachel Weisz | Herself |
| Murray Lachlan Young | New Year's Eve Party Guest |
| Augustus Prew | Ali |
| Alex Kew | Simon Cosgrove |
| Mark Heap | Math Teacher |
| Sunanda Biswas James Marshall-Gunn Jamie Mayer Korede Obashju |
Def Penalty Kru |
| Roger Brierley | Mr. Chalmers, the M.C. |
| Stefan Pejic | Apple Thrower |
See also[]
External links[]
- About a Boy at the Internet Movie Database
- About a Boy at the Movie Database
- About a Boy at Rotten Tomatoes
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