About a Boy

About a Boy (2002)

  • 93% of critics liked it
    (162 reviews)

  • 51% of users liked it
    (29,749,465 ratings)

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… More

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PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Written By
Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Genres
Drama, Romance, Comedy
In Theaters
May 17, 2002 Wide
On DVD
Jan 14, 2003
Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Derek Elley, Variety

    Pleasant and engaging, rather than laugh-out-loud funny or emotionally involving.

  • J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

    Few movies have made better use of Hugh Grant's shallow charm and amused befuddlement than this funny and well-paced adaptation of Nick Hornby's best-selling second novel.

  • David Ansen, Newsweek

    The first big studio movie of 2002 I didn't want to end.

  • Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune

    The movie occasionally strains for crowd-pleasing moments as it pumps up the drama toward the end, but it more than earns our indulgence.

  • Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

    In the end, the film comes over as a messy delight, thanks to the skill, generosity and good-sport, punching-bag panache of Mr. Grant's performance.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Bob S


    Rated this high cause I dig Badly Drawn Boy. And cause if must do a chick-flick, you could do a lot worse.

  • Melvin W


    Christine: You will end up childless and alone. Will: Well, fingers crossed, yeah. I was really surprised with just how good this movie was despite the rave reviews. Since it's a labeled a "Romantic Comedy;" I didn't have very high expectations. It's not… More

  • Bethany M


    I loved this film. Hugh Grant is my secret crush and his acting isn't as bad as people say. Average chick flick really, but a great film. A definite must see!

  • Jameson W


    Great film! Driven by great performances and a touching story, this dark comedy delivers an emotional dramatic punch that is impossible to not fall in love with. I love this film...it falls into that drama/comedy genre that I absolutely love (Garden State, Juno, Stranger Than… More

  • Spencer S


    Another Hugh Grant film where he plays a self possessed ego maniac who is redeemed and made viable to society. That would have been fine by me if the character wasn't so annoying, the premise without merit, and the depressive state so very....depressive. Kudos to Toni Collette… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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