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Film Review
About a Boy
(2002) Available now on VHS or DVD
Starring: Hugh Grant, Toni Collette
Review by Jenni van Wageningen
Will Freeman (Hugh Grant) is a superficially charming bachelor in his
late thirties. He fritters away his days with trivial pre-occupations
and the pursuit of pleasure, firmly believing that he does not need
anyone else to share his life. He targets single mothers as easy prey,
routinely discarding them after a short relationship so he can avoid any
kind of commitment. Although he sees his self-serving life as ‘cool’ and
satisfying, he is really an empty shell, a shallow and fake person with
no real friends.
When an unusual 12 year old boy enters his life, Will is very resistant to the demands Marcus makes on his time and energy by regularly turning up on his doorstep. Marcus needs a supportive father figure and believes he has found what he wants in Will. In reality, Will needs Marcus more than Marcus needs him.
Marcus’ mother (Toni Collette) is battling depression and Will reluctantly becomes involved with the two of them after she attempts to commit suicide. However, he has no intention of adding Fiona to his list of conquests.
Marcus persists with trying to attach himself to Will and gradually breaks down the barriers that he has built around his mind and heart. Eventually Will becomes fond and protective of the awkward and unpopular boy, buying him clothes, shielding him from bullies and supporting him with his doomed musical act on a school talent night.
The movie is not just about one, but about two boys and their developing relationship. Will is the eternal adolescent who prefers to shirk all responsibility, while Marcus is in a situation which makes it difficult for him to experience a normal boyhood. In helping Marcus to grow up and cope with life, Will comes to a new awareness of himself and finally begins to mature.
This movie lays many of the issues which plague our society. Will’s meaningless and materialistic life is in the spotlight. (It is interesting that Hugh Grant appears to be playing himself, as his own approach to relationships, if the popular media is to be believed, has been far from exemplary.) Fiona also has difficulty with nurturing relationships and her depression stems from her personal despair and lack of hope.
The message is that our attitudes and our actions affect both ourselves and others. We are not self-sufficient islands, but need to nurture long-term committed relationships if we are to be happy and fulfilled. Family and community are all-important, as are honesty, caring about others, and leading productive and meaningful lives.
This is an entertaining movie with a variety of tone
and mood. Besides being very amusing, it is often unexpectedly poignant
and moving, while at other times quite wry and cynical. Because the wit
and humour is not an end in itself, but intended to highlight deeper
issues surrounding life and relationships it can be classed as ‘serious
comedy’.
I liked the way it made clear that real love means placing concern for
the well-being of others ahead of ones own personal wants and needs.
Responsibility towards people we have not necessarily chosen but who
have been placed on our path was also stressed.
The overall theme of personal growth and redemption is a familiar one. While the film deals with this in a deft and generally satisfying way, it does of course stop far short of recognizing that there is a much deeper spiritual problem which will not be solved by ‘warm fuzzies’ and congenial celebrations with friends and family.
The remedy does not lie in reaching out to each
other, but in seeing that Christ is reaching out to us to heal and to
help, and that only his self-sacrificial love can enable us to recognize
not only our need but the needs of others.
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