ABOUT A BOY (DVD) (WS) DVD

About a Boy
London's most frequently eligible bachelor gets some lessons in growing up from a maladroit 12-year-old boy in this third big-screen adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, directed and co-written by siblings Chris and Paul Weitz of American Pie fame. About a Boy concerns the parallel coming-of-age stories of the thirtysomething Will (Hugh Grant), a layabout "serial nice guy" living a posh, carefree lifestyle off his deceased father's fortune; and the preteen Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a bright but awkward youth who's tired of his mom Fiona's (Toni Collette) depressed, boyfriend-less state. Their paths collide when Will, deciding that single mothers are the easiest romantic conquests on the dating scene, fabricates a two-year-old son and joins a group called S.P.A.T. (Single Parents Alone Together). Marcus is wise to Will's scheme, however, and through some incessant pestering and blackmail, he contrives for Will to date Fiona. Though Will doesn't hit it off immediately with either Marcus or his mother, he gradually begins to open up to the people around him -- so much so that he attracts the attention of another attractive single mom (Rachel Weisz). A U.S./U.K. co-production of Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Films and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner's Working Title (the company responsible for the Grant-related Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones's Diary), About a Boy was co-written by What's Eating Gilbert Grape creator Peter Hedges. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Cast Hugh Grant as Will Freeman Nicholas Hoult as Marcus Toni Collette as Fiona Rachel Weisz as Rachel Isabel Brooke as Angie Victoria Smurfit as Susie Sharon Small as Christine

Crew Garry Freeman - Art Director Priscilla John - Casting Joanna Johnston - Costume Designer Christopher Newman - First Assistant Director Paul Weitz - Director Chris Weitz - Director Nick Moore - Editor Lynn Harris - Executive Producer Nick Hornby - Executive Producer Patrick Seymour - Musical Arrangement Jim Clay - Production Designer Remi Adefarasin - Cinematographer Robert De Niro - Producer Tim Bevan - Producer Eric Fellner - Producer Jane Rosenthal - Producer Bill Meadows - Sound/Sound Designer Tony Dawe - Sound/Sound Designer Paul Weitz - Screenwriter Chris Weitz - Screenwriter Peter Hedges - Screenwriter Norval D. Crutcher III - ADR Editor Norval D. Crutcher III - Dialogue Editor Nick Hornby - Book Author

About a Boy
A thoroughly pleasant but decidedly un-romantic comedy boasting another witty star turn from Hugh Grant, this Nick Hornby adaptation belongs to the increasingly common subgenre of hybrid British-American comedy-dramas that are easy enough going down, but may leave viewers with a few naggingly unresolved character arcs and motivations. As a funny, involving tale of redemption for a lazy, spoiled lad edging toward middle age, About a Boy succeeds. Hugh Grant is one of the few actors since Cary Grant who can remain likeable even as he's committing near-despicable acts of dishonesty, and directors Chris and Paul Weitz have found a perfect foil for him in the disarmingly guileless Nicholas Hoult. They've also managed to make their first genuinely stylish film, shot with grainy aplomb by Remi Adefarasin (less successful are editor Nick Moore's showy jump cuts and wipe transitions). But their script, written with Peter Hedges, leaves something to be desired in its romantic half. By the time About a Boy reveals the charming but ineffectual love interest Rachel Weisz, audiences may be long past the point of caring if, when, or with whom its cad of a protagonist is going to settle down. It doesn't help that the luminous Toni Collette, though saddled with a frump of a role, walks off with every scene she's in, and has unlimited depth and chemistry with Grant. Though the Weitz brothers have proven that they have heart to spare when it comes to their lovelorn heroes -- American Pie proved as much -- ultimately, they're not as democratic when it comes to some of their supporting characters, and engaging as it is, About a Boy can't help but suffer as a result. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
 

Chris Weitz: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Chris Weitz: Writers Guild of America, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Hugh Grant: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (nominated) Nicholas Hoult: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Young Actor/Actress (nominated) Nicholas Hoult: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Young Performer (nominated) Paul Weitz: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Paul Weitz: Writers Guild of America, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Peter Hedges: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Peter Hedges: Writers Guild of America, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Toni Collette: Toronto Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress [Runner-up] (winner)

American Film Institute, Top Ten Movie of the Year (winner) Golden Globe, Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc Hilarious deleted scenes Feature commentary with directors Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz Exciting music videos by Badly Drawn Boy "Santa's Super Sleigh" lyrics to the entire song Spotlight on location: the making of About a Boy English to English dictionary DVD-ROM features DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 102 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Two Boys (Main Titles) [6:49] 2. Fabulous Single Mums [4:09] 3. Bad Times [2:25] 4. S.P.A.T. [4:27] 5. The Weird Kid [3:10] 6. Duck Killer [2:18] 7. Emergency [6:27] 8. Cool Uncle Will [5:21] 9. Will's New Friend [8:52] 10. Cool New Shoes [3:30] 11. Marcus in the Middle [4:49] 12. Christmas [5:49] 13. Rachel [4:26] 14. My Son Marcus [6:33] 15. Truth & Consequences [4:39] 16. Something for Mum [4:21] 17. Worried About Marcus [1:23] 18. The School Concert [6:11] 19. No Man Is an Island [8:03] 20. End Titles [2:23]