About a Boy

Details

Will is a trendy 38-year-old Londoner who, thanks to the royalties from a Christmas song written by his late father, spends his days buying new CDs, obsessing over his hairstyle and watching Countdown on television. Whilst his days may be uneventful, his evenings are rather more active, devoted entirely to women and avoiding any mention of employment. Commitment, however, is not on the agenda - as soon as a relationship begins to resemble something serious, Will makes a swift exit and returns to his solitary life and Countdown.

Will stumbles upon what he believes to be the perfect solution when he realises single mothers may be more receptive to his charms. After all, surely they're desperate for a man and eternally grateful for what he can offer?

Buoyed by this questionable logic, he joins a support group called SPAT (Single Parents Alone Together) in search of romantic opportunities. Unfortunately, Will fails to consider that single mothers tend to come with children - and that pretending to be a "single parent" without actually having a child may eventually present complications.

When Will takes one SPAT member on a date, she brings along Marcus, the twelve-year-old son of another group member. Marcus, a socially awkward but perceptive boy, quickly realises Will is not a parent at all. With Will's deception exposed, Marcus begins to insert himself into Will's carefully structured life, hoping to match him with his depressed mother, Fiona. Reluctantly at first, Will and Marcus form an unlikely friendship - one that sees Marcus gain confidence while Will slowly begins to grow up.

Picture & Sound

The picture is bright and colourful throughout, with a pleasing level of detail. Interior and exterior scenes are handled with ease, and the high bit rate results in a crisp, clean image free from artefacting or edge enhancement. The print is pristine, with no visible scratches or blemishes. It's reassuring to see such a polished transfer for a modern release.

As a dialogue-driven film, there is little opportunity for the soundtrack to stretch a surround system. Dialogue remains firmly anchored in the centre channel and is consistently clear, requiring no adjustments to volume. The front and rear channels are primarily used for the Badly Drawn Boy soundtrack, which blends seamlessly with the dialogue. The overall presentation is subtle but effective, making for an easy and enjoyable viewing experience.

Menu & Extras

The menu system is static and silent, and although visually themed around the film, it feels rather underwhelming for a high-profile release. The layouts are functional and logically arranged, but a little more creativity would not have gone amiss.

Fortunately, the extras are more engaging. There's behind-the-scenes footage, a selection of deleted scenes, and an interview with soundtrack contributor Badly Drawn Boy, alongside accompanying music videos. The standout feature is the informative audio commentary from directors Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. The pair provide an energetic and detailed discussion covering both the film and deleted scenes, rarely allowing a moment of silence as they share insights into the production.

Overall

This is a genuinely charming comedy worthy of repeat viewings and a welcome reminder that the British film industry still has plenty to offer. It manages to be touching one moment and sharply funny the next, with Hugh Grant's perfectly timed exclamation of "Bugger!" among the many highlights. He has also wisely abandoned the floppy haircut of old. Arguably, this is his strongest performance since Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Special features

• Spotlight on Location: The Making of About a Boy
• Feature Commentary with Directors Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz
• Deleted Scenes
• Born in the UK - Interview with Badly Drawn Boy
• Music Video - Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy
• Music Video - Something to Talk About by Badly Drawn Boy
• Trailers
• DVD-ROM Enhanced