Movie Reviews: About a Boy

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

"About a Boy" is an adorable romantic comedy complete with the requisite adorable kid, though thankfully he's not annoyingly cute. This film delivers on all of its promises and then goes that extra mile to totally captivate and amuse both female and male moviegoers.

" With "About a Boy," Grant delivers another memorable performance, adding to his already impressive collection of characters audiences have a love/hate relationship with. Hugh Grant plays Will, a single, do-nothing, rich, self-absorbed cad. His inherited wealth allows him to plan his day in increments of 30 minutes, with no 30 minute period spent doing anything more exhausting than paying an exorbitant amount to get his hair skillfully tousled or changing channels on the remote. He is an island onto himself and loves it that way, damn it - or so he often

proclaims. He doesn't work, has no desire to actually be in a relationship, and the mere mention of kids propels him into panic mode.

Will's life catapults into uncharted territory when he discovers a brand new world of women waiting to be conquered - the world of single mothers. Compared to their ex's, Will is a champion amongst men. After a few unsuccessful attempts at meeting women with children in grocery stores, he gets the brilliant idea of meeting them at S.P.A.T. (Single Parents, Alone Together). Inventing a 2 year-old named Ned and swapping sob stories with the other single parents, Will makes a connection with the beauty of the group, Suzie. Will flashes that dazzling smile and the next thing you know, Will and Suzie have got a day at the park planned. Their first date is intruded upon when they are joined at the last minute by Marcus, the 12 year-old son of Suzie's good friend and fellow S.P.A.T. member, Fiona (Toni Collette). Fiona's a basket case who spends her days crying ab out everything and nothing, which causes Marcus to need to escape to the relative normalcy of a day at the park - even if it is with a total stranger and his mom's best friend.

Marcus bonds with Will after an unfortunate accident with a duck and starts making daily trips to his house after school. Will be

comes a sounding board for Marcus, though Will has absolutely no idea what he has to offer the boy in the way of friendship or fatherly advice. As Marcus continues his visits without any prompting from Will, Will discovers through Marcus that his own privileged-but-vacant life could possibly have meaning. Throw in a romantic connection with the beautiful, intelligent, and interesting single mom, Rachel (Rachel Weisz), and Will's life quickly transforms into everything he actively fought tooth and nail from it ever becoming.