About a Boy (2002)

Synopsis: Shallow, unreliable, emotionally-stunted womanizing asshole befriends precocious-and-unpopular pre-teen boy because…um… um…you know, the premise of this film isn’t all that plausible. 

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “Will Lightman (Hugh Grant) is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year old named Marcus.” 

What Did I Learn?: 1) A person's life is like a TV show. 2) Once you open your door to one person anyone can come in.

You Might Like This Movie If: You know that high school concerts are bad news.

 

Really?: About a Boy is a nice little film, but it requires you to believe: a) Marcus would willingly subject himself to the ridicule of the entire school with a performance of “Killing Me Softly,” and b) Will wouldn’t simply call the police or the boy’s mom to make him stop ringing the doorbell (see: “Synopsis”).

Rating: About a Boy is a likeable and bittersweet comedy-drama that certainly tugs the heartstrings. The script is cleverly written, and Grant and Nicholas Hoult (Marcus) work well together, but I frequently had a great deal of trouble believing these characters would behave as they do (see: “Really” and “Synopsis”). I also hate cringe-inducing awkward moments, and this film is chock full of them. 7.5/10 stars. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276751/?ref_=nv_sr_2