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HugeReviews.com Reviews:
About
being Male: About a Boy
by Christian De Matteo
Super
Hugh
Grant’s latest film, which I had been looking forward to, had a lot
going against it. That “a
lot” is Star Wars Episode 2.
I had seen it the night before and was so incredibly amped still
that the idea of seeing one of those “human” type stories had become
a tad bit abhorrent. Standing
in line, Mike and I discussed how if they were already filled up for the
premiere, we would just go see Star Wars again.
And again. And that
sounded fine.
But
then the film began, and even though Hugh Grant at no point whipped out
a lightsaber and started kicking Sith ass, I was swept up.
Based on the novel by Nick Hornby (who also wrote the book
“High Fidelity”) and directed very well by the brothers who directed
the first American Pie installment, the film captures the essence
of maleness like High Fidelity did, but this time under different
circumstances. Using
internal monologue for both main characters, Hugh Grant’s Will and
Nicholas Hoult’s Marcus, we get some very funny moments and also a
great opportunity to understand where these two are comparatively in the
world. When the two end up
meeting, we are well aware that this is a truly odd couple.
Both do an excellent job with some very fresh comedy, often
extremely witty, as well as getting across a good amount of poignancy.
Another
pleasure I’ve discovered in recent films, is that known as Toni
Collette. Since The
Sixth Sense, I’m always excited to watch her act and am
disappointed with films like Changing Lanes when she just isn’t
given enough to do. About
a Boy gives her an excellent opportunity, one that she grabs and
goes beyond, to really sink her teeth into a fairly complex role of
adoring mother/suicidal manic-depressive.
How does one continue to show her love for a child after trying
to kill herself? Toni
Collette pulls it off completely, and does some of the best crying
I’ve seen in years.
With
a great screenplay by Peter Hodges, a desire to make a fun, witty movie
that isn’t silly, and has some real human import, the film wins
completely, and will win you as well.
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