About a Boy (2002)

Based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel, About A Boy is the story of a cynical, immature young man who is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy

Directors:

Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Writers:

Nick Hornby (novel), Peter Hedges (screenplay),

Stars:

Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Sharon Small

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Grant	...	Will Freeman
Nicholas Hoult	...	Marcus Brewer
Sharon Small	...	Christine
Madison Cook	...	Imogen
Jordan Cook	...	Imogen
Nicholas Hutchison	...	John
Ryan Speechley	...	Barney
Joseph Speechley	...	Barney
Toni Collette	...	Fiona Brewer
Natalia Tena	...	Ellie (as Nat Gastiain Tena)
Laura Kennington	...	Ellie's Friend
Tanika Swaby	...	Ellie's Friend
Peter McNicholl	...	Ellie's Friend
Christopher Webster	...	Ellie's Friend
Ben Ridgeway	...	Lee

Storyline

Twelve year old Marcus Brewer lives with his chronically depressed single mother, Fiona Brewer. Both Fiona and Marcus beat to their own respective drummers. Marcus will do whatever he can to make his depressed mother happy, even if it causes himself grief. As such, he realizes that he is perceived as different than most kids, as even the self-professed weird kids don't want to hang out with him as he is the target of bullying. Part of the taunts against him are the fact that he sings and speaks to himself without even realizing that he is doing it. Meanwhile, thirty-eight year old Will Freeman is a slacker who has lived comfortably off the royalties of a song written by his deceased father, and as such has never had to work a day in his life. He is a solitary man who places himself as the first and only priority in life. He comes across the idea that dating single moms meets his selfish carnal needs. It is in this capacity that Will meets Marcus, as one of Will's single mother ...

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Plot Keywords:

boy | friend | single mother | imaginary son | single father | 

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Taglines:

Growing up has nothing to do with age.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Pictures [us]

Country:

UK USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

About a Boy oder: Der Tag der toten Ente

Filming Locations:

HMV Oxford Circus, Oxford Street, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,527,768 (France) (15 November 2002)

Gross:

$2,834,577 (France) (29 November 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Tribeca Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the novel, the music that Will introduces Marcus to - and so in turn bonds with Ellie over - is not rap, but the band Nirvana. The book is actually set during the 1993-1994 period, and the story climaxes with the kids learning of and being affected by Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain's 4/5/94 suicide (which within the context of the story has additional significance for Marcus). The title of the story is itself a pun on the Nirvana song "About A Girl".

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Goofs

After the Christmas dinner scene we see a clip of Marcus in school followed by the New Year's Eve scene with Will and Rachel. There is no school between Christmas and New Year's in the UK.

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Quotes

Marcus: I'll come if you take my mom, too. She hasn't got any money, so either we'll have to go somewhere cheap, or you'll have to treat us.
Will: Well, listen, don't beat about the bush, Marcus.
Marcus: Why should I? We're poor, you're rich, you pay. You can bring your little boy if you like. I don't mind.
Will: That's really big of you.

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Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Killing Me Softly With His Song"
By Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox
Performed by Toni Collette, Hugh Grant, and Nicholas Hoult

User Reviews

Hugh Grant gets a decent script where he can do what he does best and doesn't have to stutter

Described by some as a man's version of Bridget Jones Diary the remarkable thing is that it lives up to the description. Hugh Grant, with an excellent script that could have been written especially for him, plays a young confirmed single yuppie socialite, dividing his day into units in which to pack his meaningless but carefree, philandering lifestyle and disposable income. After initially discovering unmarried mothers as a new supply of grateful sexual objects, he becomes drawn into a meaningful life after making friends with a young boy. Avoiding a cheesy ending is one of the film's many triumphs.