(rated PG-13, 101 mins.) Based on the Nick Hornby’s novel comes a comedy drama starring Hugh Grant as Will, a rich, self-absorbed, spoiled and irresponsible Londoner playboy that the audience should clearly hate yet miraculously loves. (must be Grant’s dead-on charm and a good screenplay). One day in his latest concocted scheme to score women, Will joins SPAT (Single Parents Alone Together) because divorced moms are supposed to be easy, wild and not looking for commitment. As planned he meets a lovely divorcee named Angie (Isabell Brook) who comes with a package of her own child and another kid named Marcus (Nicholas Hault) who joins them for a picnic. Slowly Marcus worms his way into Will’s life by mirroring Will’s own childhood and faults. When a tragedy strikes, it changes the “Will Show Sitcom” into a single mom ensemble drama. Once Will opens up, life floods him with all he’s been missing — new friends, Marcus’s mom (Toni Collette) and finally the real thing arrives in Rachel Weisz. This is a story about the meaning of meaning something to somebody. About A Boy is about making life mean something. About A Boy is about time for Hugh Grant at home in this role as the guy we fell in love with from “Four Weddings and A Funeral”. He’s vulnerable, sympathetic and truly delightful in being an oh-shucks bad guy. This year’s “Bridgette Jones”. This year’s best so far. Don’t miss it.
