A box-office smash in England, <I>About a Boy</I> went on to charm the world as another fine adaptation (following <I>High Fidelity</I>) of a popular Nick Hornby novel. While <I>High Fidelity</I> transplanted its London charm to Chicago, this irresistible comedy was directed by Americans Chris and Paul Weitz (<I>American Pie</I>) with its British pedigree intact. Better yet, Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as Will, a self-absorbed trust-fund slacker who tries to improve his romantic odds by preying on desperate single mothers. His cynical strategy backfires when he recruits the misfit son (Nicholas Hoult) of a suicidal mother (Toni Collette) to pose as his own son, thus proving his parental prowess to his latest single-mom target (Rachel Weisz). The kid has a warming effect on this ultimate cad, and what could have been a sappy tearjerker turns into a subtle, frequently hilarious portrait of familial quirks and elevated self-esteem. From start to finish, it's a genuine treat. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I>

Reader Reviews

Price: $9.98 Updated on 5-25-2009.