I never thought I needed a friendship between a grown man and a 12 year old boy until I watched this movie. Their heartwarming relationship will make you reevaluate your priorities in life.
About a Boy
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- United Kingdom,
- United States,
- France,
- Germany
- 2002
- · 101m
Director
Paul Weitz
Cast
Hugh Grant,
Nicholas Hoult,
Toni Collette,
Rachel Weisz,
Sharon Small,
Madison Cook
Genre
Comedy,
Drama,
Romance
Will Freeman, childless and in his thirties, wants to keep dating without commitment. He passes himself off as a single father to gain women's trust and attention. When Will meets Marcus, a struggling 12-year-old, they help each other figure out what it means to grow up.
Stream About a Boy
What are users saying?
What are critics saying?
100
Washington Post by Ann Hornaday
That rare romantic comedy that dares to choose messiness over closure, prickly independence over fetishized coupledom, and honesty over typical Hollywood endings.
100
Portland Oregonian by Shawn Levy
The timing and cutting of the film are terrific, the build-up to an absurdly hilarious climax is just right, and the performances are near perfect.
90
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
Hilarious, touching and wonderfully dyspeptic.
90
Slate by David Edelstein
It's irresistible, damn it. Mainstream comedies should all be this funny and tender and deftly performed.
90
Newsweek by David Ansen
Movie purists will tell you that a heavy reliance on voice-over is a sin (“show, don’t tell”), but when the words are this funny, to hell with purity.
90
New York Magazine (Vulture) by Peter Rainer
Sophisticated and nuanced, and every character is bursting with emotional contradictions.
90
Wall Street Journal by Joe Morgenstern
Better than a feelgood movie, it's a feelgreat movie -- genuinely clever, affecting when you least expect it to be and funny from start to finish.
90
Salon by Stephanie Zacharek
As close to mainstream perfection as I've seen all year. It gives us everything we want, need and deserve without batting an eye.
89
Austin Chronicle by Marc Savlov
About a Boy knows exactly what it wants to do: It wants to make you smile, and grin, and then laugh with recognition, and it manages all three, again and again.
88
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
We have all the action heroes and Method script-chewers we need right now, but the Cary Grant department is understaffed, and Hugh Grant shows here that he is more than a star, he is a resource.
88
USA Today by Claudia Puig
About a Boy is a rarity in many ways. It's a well-written, witty film whose memorable characters grapple with the nature of family, love, friendship and despair. Even its soundtrack, by Badly Drawn Boy, is perfectly pitched.
83
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
Hugh Grant has grown up, holding on to his lightness and witty cynicism but losing the stuttering sherry-club mannerisms that were once his signature. In doing so, he has blossomed into the rare actor who can play a silver-tongued sleaze with a hidden inner decency.
80
New Times (L.A.) by Robert Wilonsky
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of About a Boy is how substantial it plays -- as a feel-good film with weight, a knowing comedy with dramatic depth.
80
Chicago Reader by J.R. Jones
Illuminating with their energy and wit.
75
New York Daily News by Jami Bernard
A comedy hit, but its secret is that it delves deeper than the usual summer fare.
60
Variety by Derek Elley
Pleasant and engaging, rather than laugh-out-loud funny or emotionally involving.
Loading recommendations...
Loading recommendations...