X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

About a Boy

Twelve year old Marcus Brewer lives with his chronically depressed single mother, Fiona Brewer. Both Fiona and Marcus beat to their own respective drummers. Marcus will do whatever he can to make his depressed mother happy, even if it causes himself grief. As such, he realizes that he is perceived as different than most kids, as even the self-professed weird kids don't want to hang out with him as he is the target of bullying. Part of the taunts against him are the fact that he sings and speaks to himself without even realizing that he is doing it. Meanwhile, thirty-eight year old Will Freeman is a slacker who has lived comfortably off the royalties of a song written by his deceased father, and as such has never had to work a day in his life. He is a solitary man who places himself as the first and only priority in life. He comes across the idea that dating single moms meets his selfish carnal needs. It is in this capacity that Will meets Marcus, as one of Will's single mother conquests, Suzie, is friends with the Brewers. Trying to escape his life but wanting Will to date Fiona, Marcus infiltrates Will's life, much to Will's chagrin. Will slowly begins to realize that Marcus is more than just a nuisance, but rather someone who needs some guidance navigating through the trials of adolescence and the trials of dealing with a suicidal mother, and perhaps he can be a small part of providing that direction. Conversely, Marcus may be able to show Will the path to becoming a real adult.

Loading. Please wait...

Content not available in your region? ExpressVPN can help you stay connected wherever you are. Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.

Cast & Crew See All

Hugh Grant
Will Freeman
Nicholas Hoult
Marcus Brewer
Toni Collette
Fiona Brewer

Awards

  • 2003 - Oscar - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay - nominated
  • 2003 - Golden Globe - Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - nominated
  • 2003 - Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - nominated
  • 2003 - CFCA Award - Best Actor - nominated

You May Also Like See All

Lawrence of Arabia
Rear Window
The Conformist
Fanny and Alexander

Popular Movies See all movies

History of the World: Part I

1 hr 32 mins
Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.
47   Metascore
1981 Comedy, Documentary, Music

14 and Under

1 hr 27 mins
A series of "sex reports" intended to address the issue of pedophilia in the early 1970s.
1973 Comedy

The Quiet Man

2 hr 9 mins
Sean Thornton has returned from America to reclaim his homestead and escape his past. Sean's eye is caught by Mary Kate Danaher, a beautiful but poor maiden, and younger sister of ill-tempered "Red" Will Danaher. The riotous relationship that forms between Sean and Mary Kate, punctuated by Will's pugnacious attempts to keep them apart, form the main plot, with Sean's past as the dark undercurrent.
85   Metascore
1952 Comedy, Drama

Hoppers

1 hr 44 mins
“Hoppers” features the voice of Bobby Moynihan as King George, an undeniably optimistic, kind and larger-than-life beaver who is the leader of the pond and king of the mammals. Jon Hamm voices Mayor Jerry, a politician running for reelection in Beaverton. Under his shiny, perfectly coiffed hair and matching public persona, Jerry is losing his cool over the one thing he can’t control: Mabel
73   Metascore
2026 Animation, Action & Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction

Solo Mio

1 hr 36 mins
After being left at the altar in Rome, a man decides to go on his honeymoon alone.
48   Metascore
2026 Comedy, Drama

Blue Moon

1 hr 40 mins
On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”.
78   Metascore
2025 Documentary, Comedy, Drama, Music