So I watched the latest installation in the Hugh Grant collection this weekend (admittedly for the second time). Although it was certainly not one of my favorite Grant movies, I feel that About a Boy should be evoking a positive response from the male population, or at least those three or 4 guys who I discussed it with afterwards, which it is not. After all, the charming, spineless, floppy-haired British fop, loathed by all of the masculine reformed community under 30, was nowhere to be seen. The archetypal heartthrob was replaced by a bum in an unattractive stylish haircut who was, for all intents and purposes, a jerk throughout the entire movie. I would think that this change of character would be a welcome relief to all guys watching chick flicks against their will.
Obviously, this change of character for Grant was what made About a Boy so disappointing, initially, for me. (That and the fact that the freakishly dressed kid was so disturbing to watch---what's with his eyebrows???) However, the film was redeemed at the very end by Grant's enthused (though not particularly talented) rendition of "Killing Me Softly" during which, I must point out, he was really playing the guitar. Nice save.
Posted by Micah Lewis at January 20, 2003 02:34 PM