About a Boy (2002)

Synopsis of About a Boy

London's most frequently eligible bachelor gets some lessons in growing up from a maladroit 12-year-old boy in this third big-screen adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, directed and co-written by siblings Chris and Paul Weitz of American Pie fame. About a Boy concerns the parallel coming-of-age stories of the thirtysomething Will (Hugh Grant), a layabout "serial nice guy" living a posh, carefree lifestyle off his deceased father's fortune; and the preteen Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a bright but awkward youth who's tired of his mom Fiona's (Toni Collette) depressed, boyfriend-less state. Their paths collide when Will, deciding that single mothers are the easiest romantic conquests on the dating scene, fabricates a two-year-old son and joins a group called S.P.A.T. (Single Parents Alone Together). Marcus is wise to Will's scheme, however, and through some incessant pestering and blackmail, he contrives for Will to date Fiona. Though Will doesn't hit it off immediately with either Marcus or his mother, he gradually begins to open up to the people around him -- so much so that he attracts the attention of another attractive single mom (Rachel Weisz). A U.S./U.K. co-production of Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Films and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner's Working Title (the company responsible for the Grant-related Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones's Diary), About a Boy was co-written by What's Eating Gilbert Grape creator Peter Hedges. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

See All About a Boy Trailers and Clips

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

102 mins

Director(s):

Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Writer(s):

Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz, Peter Hedges

Producer(s):

Robert De Niro, Eric Fellner, Jane Rosenthal

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG13(Watch With Your Teen, Adult Language, Adult Situations)

• 2002 - American Film Institute - Top Ten Movie of the Year
• 2002 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actress [Runner-up]

Looking for special editions of About a Boy?

See All Versions

Subtitles:

Check All Versions

Closed Captioning:

Check All Versions