Movie Review: About a Boy

The day I watched this film I watched two others, 'United 93' and 'The Spiderwick Chronicles'. Although I liked them both I feel this would be more fun to review. It had a decent rating on IMDB and Roger Ebert gave it three-and-a-half stars. I didn't know what to expect. All I wanted was a good romantic movie but got something more. No complaints with that.

1. Have I ever seen a movie with the message 'No man is an island'? Have I ever seen a movie which said we need people around us? I can't recall any. To make a movie out a question asked on a famous T.V. program and to make it so well is commendable. For the theme itself this film deserves applause.
2. The way the story moves too is special. There is a point in the film when Marcus is trying to hitch his mom with Will. I expected the film to follow on familiar lines. At this time I even asked myself how could this film achieve a nomination for adapted screenplay. But then the film took me through some fantastic but realistically shot scenes. I say it again, fantastic but realistically shot. Yes! It all seemed real to me but failed to touch my heart because it all felt improbable.
3. The story is very much into building convinving characters. They all gel together very well in the story.
   
4. Hugh Grant is charming. He may not be the best actor, heck! He's nowhere close to that. However, he has carved a niche for enacting such roles. I loved him in this flick just as much as I loved him in his other British comedies.
5. The rest of the cast acts well. Marcus makes the cut.
   

All said and done I regret watching this film for one reason. I wish I'd read the book first.

RATING: 4/5