ViewGuide

Created Mar 07, 2011 08:18AM PST • Edited Mar 07, 2011 08:18AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   An endearing comedic piece about a single man who decides to pretend to be a father in order to meet women at single parent support groups. Hugh Grant plays Will, a man who is convinced his life is better “as an island” than having any meaningful attachment. He really has no job, living off the success of his father who wrote an obnoxious Christmas jingle. His days consist of dating beautiful women, and watching TV. And he clearly has no interest in becoming a father, until he realizes the potential benefit form being perceived as a lonely single dad.

   Eventually, he becomes friends with Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a precocious pre-teenager, who lives with a manic-depressive mother Fiona (Toni Collette). Fiona has spent her entire life coddling Marcus, including dressing him in ridiculous clothing that matches her eccentric tastes. Will befriends Marcus, and eventually helps him learn how to stand up for himself.

   The movie’s highlight for me is the running internal ramblings of Will in the first 20 minutes of the film, as he internally verbalizes his observations about the women he meets. A classic observation is of Fiona, dressed in a large furry jacket, which prompts Will to speculate she is wearing some type of traditional Yeti outfit.

   The innocent fumblings of a man clearly unable to care for a child is appealing, as is the initial stages of the bonding between Marcus and Will. Sadly, the movie’s latter parts suffer from some predictable storytelling, diminishing from the crisp comedic energy we enjoyed in the beginning.

   Overall, it was an enjoyable movie without becoming too overly romantic.

   Watched on Netflix streaming.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Hugh Grant is actually enjoyable as a likeable guy trying to figure out fatherhood.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Hugh Grant is actually enjoyable as a likeable guy trying to figure out fatherhood. Hoult does a good job of portraying the awkward kid who is looking for acceptance, while learning to stand on his own.

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

   Toni Collette is wonderful as the eccentric and unpredictible mother who doesn’t realize the impact of her coddling on her son.

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Good 3.0

    Nice direction helps to keep the story relatively fresh. Good editing also moves us along as the relationship progresses.

12. Play Good 3.0

    The movie shifts gears in act three, and becomes a bit too heavy handed for its own good. Otherwise, it was nicely paced.

13. Music Good 3.0

    Other than Marcus’ singing, the soundtrack was uptemple and fresh.

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.6

17. Sex Innocent 1.2

18. Violence Fierce 1.7

    Some images of a post-suicide attempt.

19. Rudeness Salty 1.9

    Two “f” bombs and a few other milder swear terms.

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0