Product Details

• Actors: Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult
• Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
• Writers: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Peter Hedges
• Producers: Nick Hornsby, Lynn Harris, Tim Bevan, Robert De Niro, Brad Epstein
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: January 14, 2003
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (262 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JL7Q
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,030 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz. A 38-year-old slacker who passes himself off as a single father in order to date single mothers gets a taste of the real thing when he is befriended by a fatherless 12-year-old boy. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby. 2002/color/106 min/PG-13.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Actual Real Film February 17, 2003

By schapmock

Format:DVD

Heartwarming studio chickflick about Hugh Grant bonding with a little boy...this description didn't send me rushing to the cinema, despite the Nick Hornsby brand. But shockingly, About a Boy isn't a standard Hollywood prefab romcom or sentimental twaddle -- it's an actual film, sharply written, evocatively directed, beautifully acted.

The caustic British wit immediately sets the film apart from its studio comedy brethren -- its actually, frequently funny. The characters feel real, lived in. The superb dual voiceover is potent rebuke to those still peddling the convential wisdom that vo's are "uncinematic" (if this includes you you're immediately assigned "Election" and "Adaptation"), working comfortably inside our protagonists' heads without any dreaded 'literary' staining, bringing their vibrant inner lives to comic life.

So instead of the false life lessons and maudlin sentimentality films of this sort so often trade in, we get a moving, witty story about...okay, yeah...Hugh Grant bonding with a little boy. But that's no reason not to rent it.

The widescreen picture is gorgeous (another nice departure from drearily filmed studio comedies) and the disc comes with numerous, lengthy deleted scenes that are virtually all terrific, and well worth viewing.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best films of the year. January 14, 2003

By Benjamin

Format:DVD

It frightened me, at first, to hear that directors Chris and Paul Weitz, the guys who made "American Pie," were behind the film adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel. Though Hugh Grant was born to play the self-centered, shallow, immature man urged to grow through his relationship with a young boy in need, I forgot about the occasional moments of warmth in "American Pie" and doubted the Weitzes were capable of conveying the heart and seriousness necessary to make this film. I was wrong.

Matching moments of true horror involving attempted suicide at the film's beginning with Grant's continuing snarky, sarcastic voiceover showed that the directors had found the precise balance necessary to make the film work. It's a heartwarming, occasionally edgy film about the human need for others and about how a family - whether one we're born into or one that we create for ourselves - can help us grow.

Nicholas Hoult, as Marcus, gives a great performance, and Toni Collette, as his hippie, depressive mother, is Oscar-caliber, but the film belongs to Grant. It's the best work he's ever done.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best films of 2002 January 8, 2003

By "emerikan"

Format:DVD

I was hesitant on seeing this, partly because I had never heard of it or seen reviews of it on TV before, but my mom reluctantly dragged me to the show to see it. Was I surprised.

Hugh Grant plays an amazing character, the male version of Bridget Jones, or so I think. His commentary throughout the movie at random points made me laugh, and I love the "SPAT" meeting. The boy in the film did an amazing job, and the bond that forms between him and Will is great. After I saw the movie, I bought the book, and both were equally impressive. No one could have played this role better than Grant, he's perfect for it. This is probably one of his best films, if not the best.

When it comes out on DVD, I strongly suggest getting it, or rent it first, and I guarentee you will love it. I was hesitant on seeing it, and I was extremely surprised and pleased!!!

The soundtrack is also amazing, done by "Badly Drawn Boy". I suggest getting it if you're a fan of the film, because every song in the film is on the soundtrack.