Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

I do not want to spend Christmas with Ms. Granola Suicide and her spawn.

The Why
After reading that Hugh Grant had been nominated for a BAFTA for his role in A Very English Scandal and that Four Wedding and a Funeral was getting a remake, I started to think about Grant’s older movies. There are tonnes on Netflix to choose from at the moment but About a Boy was the one I had less of a recollection for, having watched it ten years ago for A Level Media Studies.

The Rewatch
So my memory was way off with what I thought this movie was about, and what it was actually about.

By a string of coincidences, bachelor and lay-about Will (Hugh Grant), becomes involved in twelve-year-old Marcus’s (Nicholas Hoult) life. Latching onto Will, Marcus uses him as somewhere to turn when his mother’s depression gets bad.

It really doesn’t sound like the makings of a comedy – or a romance, but that’s British Film and Television for you; turning the macabre into humour. Personally, I love a bit of dark humour but still thought About a Boy conceived a nice balance of humour, endearment and seriousness. I might have even teared up at one point.

At first, I hated Hugh Grant’s character, literally to the point where I had to keep pausing the movie to send angry/venting voice notes to my friend. Will’s mission in life was solely finding the next woman to sleep with/temporarily date before breaking up with them. I know it’s just a movie but; how is that your life?! Why is that your defining characteristic!

I typically can’t stand child actors but thought young Hoult was fantastic as Marcus, the slightly weird kid who loved his mother beyond words. He and Grant were an onscreen match made in heaven, and their inner monologues paired nicely throughout the movie.

Also quick fun fact: Rachel Weisz also stars in this movie, and both she and Nicholas Hoult recently shared a screen together in The Favourite.

I have to admit – after rewatching this movie I kind of just want to dive head first into British Romcoms. They are a lot grittier than their American counterparts and you know what? I’m not mad at it.