Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
About a Boy is a charming, well-executed adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel. Hugh Grant delivers one of his best performances, bringing genuine depth to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional, and Nicholas Hoult is remarkable as the awkward Marcus. The plot follows a fairly predictable arc of emotional growth and unlikely friendship, hitting familiar beats of the rom-com/dramedy genre without major surprises. Cinematography is competent London-centric work without particular visual distinction. The film's novelty lies mainly in its dual-narrator structure and the male-friendship-across-generations angle, which gives it a slightly fresher voice than standard romantic comedies, but it doesn't reinvent anything. The ending is warm and satisfying but conventional. Overall a quality, well-crafted film elevated primarily by its performances.