About a Boy is a film directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, which was released in 2002. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. Hugh Grant plays the role of Will Freeman, a wealthy and shallow man who lives a carefree life without any responsibilities. However, he finds himself becoming bored with his life, especially as he sees his friends settling down and having families. With no job, no commitments, and no responsibilities, he decides to invent a new persona for himself - that of a single father - in a bid to meet women.
Will's plan works, and he starts to meet a string of single mothers who find him charming and witty. His selfish nature leads him to avoid any kind of real relationship, and he spends his days pursuing meaningless pleasure and indulgence. But everything changes when he meets a young boy named Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), who is struggling to fit in at school and has a difficult home life. Marcus quickly becomes fascinated with Will's fake single dad persona, and the two form an unlikely friendship.
As Will and Marcus spend more time together, Will begins to see life more clearly. He realizes that there is more to life than money and material possessions and starts to care about Marcus's well-being. Through his friendship with Marcus, Will realizes that he has been avoiding commitment, responsibility, and meaningful human connections his whole life.
About a Boy is a touching and witty film that explores the themes of family, friendship, and human connection. The film also features a fantastic soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy that perfectly complements the story and characters. About a Boy received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing over $130 million worldwide.