Production Year: 1999 - Drama - Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Roger Michell - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: James Dreyfus, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Victoria Smurfit, Julia Roberts, Isabel Brook, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, Gina McKee, Tim Murdock more
Two features 'About A Boy' Will Freeman, a shallow thirty-something bachelor, lives a carefree life courtesy of his deceased father's fortune. Will is terrified of commitment and... more
fine adaptation (followingHigh Fidelity) of a popular Nick Hornby novel. WhileHigh Fidelitytransplanted its London charm to Chicago, this irresistible comedy was directed by Americans Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie) with its British pedigree intact. Better yet, Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as Will, a self-absorbed trust-fund slacker who tries to improve his romantic odds by preying on desperate single mothers. His cynical strategy backfires when he recruits the misfit son (Nicholas Hoult) of a suicidal mother (Toni Collette) to pose as his own son, thus proving his parental prowess to his latest single-mom target (Rachel Weisz). The kid has a warming effect on this ultimate cad, and what could have been a sappy tearjerker turns into a subtle, frequently hilarious portrait of familial quirks and elevated self-esteem. From start to finish, it's a genuine treat. --Jeff ShannonNotting HillThey don't really make many romantic comedies likeNotting Hillanymore--blissfully romantic, sincerely sweet, and not grounded in any reality whatsoever. Pure fairy tale, and with a huge debt toRoman Holiday,Notting Hillponders what would happen if a beautiful, world-famous person were to suddenly drop into your life unannounced and promptly fall in love with you. That's the crux of the situation for William Thacker (Hugh Grant), who owns a travel bookshop in London's fashionable Notting Hill district. Hopelessly ordinary (well, as ordinary as you can be when you're Hugh Grant), William is going about his life when renowned movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) walks into his bookstore and into his heart. After another contrived meet-cute involving spilled orange juice, William and Anna share a spontaneous kiss (big suspension of disbelief required here), and soon both are smitten. The question is, of course, can William and Anna reconcile his decidedly commonplace bookseller existence and her lifestyle as a jet-setting, paparazzi-stalked celebrity? (Take a wild guess at the answer.)Smartly scripted by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and directed by Roger Michell (Persuasion),Notting Hillis hardly realistic, but as wish fulfillment and a romantic comedy, it's irresistible. True, Roberts doesn't really have to stretch very far to play a big-time actress who makes $15 million per movie, but she's more winning and relaxed than she's been in years, and Grant is sweetly understated as a man blindsided by love. Together, in moments of quiet, they're a charming couple, and you can feel her craving for real love and his awe and amazement at the wonderful person for whom he has fallen. The only blight on the film is its overbearing pop soundtrack, though Elvis Costello's heart-wrenching version of "She" gets poignant exposure. With Rhys Ifans as Grant's scene-stealing, slovenly housemate and Alec Baldwin in a sly, perfectly cast cameo. --Mark Englehart
fine adaptation (followingHigh Fidelity) of a popular Nick Hornby novel. WhileHigh Fidelitytransplanted its London charm to Chicago, this irresistible comedy was directed by Americans Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie) with its British pedigree intact. Better yet, Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as Will, a self-absorbed trust-fund slacker who tries to improve his romantic odds by preying on desperate single mothers. His cynical strategy backfires when he recruits the misfit son (Nicholas Hoult) of a suicidal mother (Toni Collette) to pose as his own son, thus proving his parental prowess to his latest single-mom target (Rachel Weisz). The kid has a warming effect on this ultimate cad, and what could have been a sappy tearjerker turns into a subtle, frequently hilarious portrait of familial quirks and elevated self-esteem. From start to finish, it's a genuine treat. --Jeff ShannonNotting HillThey don't really make many romantic comedies likeNotting Hillanymore--blissfully romantic, sincerely sweet, and not grounded in any reality whatsoever. Pure fairy tale, and with a huge debt toRoman Holiday,Notting Hillponders what would happen if a beautiful, world-famous person were to suddenly drop into your life unannounced and promptly fall in love with you. That's the crux of the situation for William Thacker (Hugh Grant), who owns a travel bookshop in London's fashionable Notting Hill district. Hopelessly ordinary (well, as ordinary as you can be when you're Hugh Grant), William is going about his life when renowned movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) walks into his bookstore and into his heart. After another contrived meet-cute involving spilled orange juice, William and Anna share a spontaneous kiss (big suspension of disbelief required here), and soon both are smitten. The question is, of course, can William and Anna reconcile his decidedly commonplace bookseller existence and her lifestyle as a jet-setting, paparazzi-stalked celebrity? (Take a wild guess at the answer.)Smartly scripted by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and directed by Roger Michell (Persuasion),Notting Hillis hardly realistic, but as wish fulfillment and a romantic comedy, it's irresistible. True, Roberts doesn't really have to stretch very far to play a big-time actress who makes $15 million per movie, but she's more winning and relaxed than she's been in years, and Grant is sweetly understated as a man blindsided by love. Together, in moments of quiet, they're a charming couple, and you can feel her craving for real love and his awe and amazement at the wonderful person for whom he has fallen. The only blight on the film is its overbearing pop soundtrack, though Elvis Costello's heart-wrenching version of "She" gets poignant exposure. With Rhys Ifans as Grant's scene-stealing, slovenly housemate and Alec Baldwin in a sly, perfectly cast cameo. --Mark Englehart
romantic comedy. This blockbuster film includes a fantastic all-star cast and an outstanding soundtrack. The hilarious Love Actually explores the ups and downs of relationships in the weeks building up to Christmas. Boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, fathers and sons and rock stars and managers all combine to make LOVE ACTUALLY not just one story but ten very different ones. Because if you look hard enough you will find love actually is all around.About A Boy:From the hugely successful author Nick Hornby and the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary comes the must have hit comedy for 2002, but this time it isn't about a girl but About A Boy. Will Freeman is the envy of every man, he drives a fast car, enjoys casual relationships and at 38 has rid his life of all responsibilities....... until he meets Marcus. A unique 12 year old boy who turns his life upside down with hilarious results. Featuring a fantastic soundtrack written especially by the critically acclaimed Badly Drawn Boy, Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary) in his best performance to date alongside Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) and Toni Cellette (Muriel's Wedding).Notting Hill:William Thacker (Hugh Grant), is the owner of a bookshop in the heart of Notting Hill in London. One day, by a one-in-a-million chance, the worlds most famous actress, Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), comes into his shop. He watches in amazement as she leaves and thinks he'll never see her again. But fate intervenes - and minutes later William collides with Anna on Portobello Road. So she begins a tale of romance and adventure in London W11. With a little help from his chaotic flatmate Spike (Rhys Ifans) and his old friends, Max and Bella (Tim McInnerny and Gina McKee), William seeks the face he can't forget...Wimbledon:Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) is rapidly approaching the end of a lacklustre tennis career. On the verge of retiring he gets a wild card to play at the prestigious Wimbledon championship, his one last chance. Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst) on the other hand is top of her game, focused and has one goal in mind - winning. A chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between the pair and the unthinkable happens. Pete rediscovers his form winning his first match and Lizzie starts to discovers that there is more to life than winning tournaments. Can Peter continue on his winning streak and can Lizzie balance her commitment to tennis with falling in love?
comedy hit the critics are hailing as "Hilarious!" (Premiere). Will Lightman (Grant) is a good-looking smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up. About A Boy is the irresistible comedy smash US Weekly raves is "The best comedy of the year!" Notting Hill: Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) is the world's most famous movie star. Her picture has been plastered on the cover of every magazine and every time she makes a move the entire world knows about it. William Thacker (Hugh Grant) owns a travel bookstore in the quaint neighbourhood of Notting Hill. His business is stagnant he has the roommate from hell and his love life is completely non-existent. Then one day their paths cross and the couple comes to face the ultimate question: can two people fall in love with the whole world watching?
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Danny Boyle - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly MacDonald, Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller
Production Year: 1999 - Drama, Thriller - Director: M. Night Shyamalan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Olivia Williams, Glenn Fitzgerald, Mischa Barton, Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1981 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray, Richard Kiley, Penelope Milford, Beatrice Straight
A review by walasdair on About A Boy / Notting Hill (DVD) August 27th, 2005
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
excellent value, if you like one, you'll definitely like the other
Disadvantages:
aware of none
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I am a 20 year old male student with no particular fondness of Hugh Grant. However i think that his performance in both of these films is brilliant. 'About a Boy' is the more serious of the two, though both have a large 'feel good factor' about them. Hugh Grant is defintely the strongest of the actors in 'About a Boy' , but the entire cast of 'Notting Hill' is strong. Quite honestly, I found 'Notting Hill' to be both sincere and hilarious with the casting of Rhys Evans as genius. Undoubtedly hailed as 'chick flicks', though I would say both were suitable for male and female audiences. Numerous classics on the soundtracks. i would strongly recommend them even if you imagine it not to be your thing.
...I chose this boxset mainly because of the Hugh Grant theme, but also because I like Julia Roberts' work (NottingHill) and I am a big fan of Love Actually. This is an excellent boxset because there is such a wide range of films - within the fact that they are all romantic comedies. Directed by Richard Curtis, each film is memorable in a different way, and they all encompass different aspects of the romantic comedy genre.
About a Boy
This stars Rachel Weisz, Toni Collete and, of course, Hugh Grant. The storyline follows Will Freeman (Grant) as he lives the perfect life thanks to his dad's genius song writing - therefore entitling him to the song royalties for the rest of his life. However, he is lacking a serious relationship, and therefore pretends to have a son in order to join a club for single parents. He consequently meets Marcus...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Three great movies in one set Disadvantages: None
...I was brought this box set of DVDs for Christmas and i really enjoy all three of these films. I had already seen About A Boy and it is one of my favourite films but I had not seen the other two. NottingHill now has to be one of my all time favourite fims and Love Actually is very good. These films aren't for anyone seeking action/horror/thriller/sci-fi, these films are comedy and romance, and in my opinion some of the best british films ive seen. If you've seen one of these and enjoyed it but this because you'll definetly like them. These films had me laughing and crying contantly throughout them. I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys a romantic comedy....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Great lead actors Disadvantages: Not alot happens
...the relationship between Will and her blossom.
I?m not really a huge fan of dramas as I tend to find them a bit boring, this one however manages to hold your full attention for the entire running time of 105 minutes, it manages to entertain you and evoke emotion from the audience which I thought was done marvellously well. My only bugbear with this film, infact all dramas is that not a lot seems to ever happen in them but the chemistry shared between the two leading characters was more than enough to propel this into a brilliant film that I would happily watch again.
The DVD is available from play.com for the extortionate price of £16.99, however you can purchase what they?ve called a Hugh Grant box set which includes the films Love Actually, NottingHill and About A Boy for only £3.99 brand new. If I didn?t already have the first two on DVD this...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Two features 'About A Boy' Will Freeman, a shallow thirty-something bachelor, lives a carefree life courtesy of his deceased father's fortune. Will is terrified of commitment and so decides that single mothers will make the easiest romantic targets... His world is turned around when he meets Marcus, a twelve year old boy. Marcus teaches Will that there is much more to life than loafing around in his London flat and worrying about the latest trends and fashions... Based on the best selling novel by Nick Hornby. 'Notting Hill' A famous actress in disguise in London runs into a divorced bookstore owner. They strike up a friendship with each other as they each find something that was previously missing from their own lives.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK; UNIVERSAL MUSIC OPERATIONS
Release date: 02/02/2004
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 822 267 1
Barcode: 5050582226713
Languages
Main Language: English
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since : 27/08/2005
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