Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

NBC’s ‘About a Boy’ series manages to capture book’s wit

I can still hear the Five for Fighting “Superman” song when I remember going to the pizza-and-video store in my small town in New Hampshire and staring up at the “About a Boy” movie poster. Hugh Grant looked devilishly handsome and a young Nicholas Hoult wore a fuzzy winter hat looking up at him.

This was Grant’s romantic comedy era, the time of “Bridget Jones,” “Two Weeks Notice,” “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.” I was 8 years old and had no knowledge of Hugh’s hooker-filled past. I was in love. At such a young age, I wasn’t allowed to see any of these movies, but every preview and movie poster allowed me to direct my own version of the film in my head. It wasn’t until a few years later that I actually saw these films, and, in my personal opinion, the versions in my head were better.

Based off the novel by Nick Hornby, “About a Boy” follows 36-year-old bachelor Will Freeman (Grant), who befriends a young boy named Marcus Bowa (Hoult) and his suicidal mother Fiona (Toni Collette). Marcus is worried about his mother and is in need of some help from Will to get her back on track. Will’s life is cool and uncomplicated, and Marcus doesn’t quite fit into it. But for some reason, he feels compelled to help him.

Through ups and downs, the film doesn’t close with the happiest of endings, but instead with contentment in the fact that things are the way they are.

One of Grant’s best performances to date, the movie is a classic among young adults. Now NBC is bringing “About a Boy” to the small screen, starring Minnie Driver as Fiona, David Walton as Will and Benjamin Stockham as Marcus.

Adapted by Jason Katims and directed by Jon Favreau, the pilot episode brought in 8.26 million viewers Tuesday night. It opens with Will going to a single parents’ meeting, even though he does not have a child himself. He is there to meet single moms. By the end of the first scene, Will is running out the door in his underwear, trying to get the number of a woman, when he meets Fiona and Marcus, his new next-door neighbors.

There are a few differences in comparison to the novel. The Christmas song Will’s dad wrote that he so hates hearing around the holiday season is now a song he has apparently written himself. The show is based in L.A., and the only thing British about the show is Minnie Driver. The book takes place in 1990s London and has been updated in what I can only assume is an attempt to keep viewers interested.

Although there are a few slight errors, the show still manages to showcase Nick Hornby’s wit and humor marvelously. The sadness and depression that seemed to be the theme of the movie no longer exist in the TV show.

David Walton doesn’t hold the same appeal for me as Hugh Grant once did, but I’m hoping he will grow on me as the show goes on. Seeing a new cast portray the characters I remember from my childhood just might renew my love for “About a Boy” all over again.

In the meantime, I’m going to try not to think of all the ways age has been unkind to my Hugh and remember the good times instead.

 

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