I had the opportunity to see a Universal screening of About A Boy opening on May 17th. Yes, that's one day after Episode II, a strategy that could more than pay off if audiences embrace the movie. I didn't embrace the movie but I didn't hate it either.

Before the film, co-writers and directors Chris and Paul Weitz (the guys behind the American Pie films) got up to introduce the movie. They were charming and even made a couple of Star Wars references.

Universal unveiled a couple of trailers before the feature. We got a new look at The Scorpion King. I believe you can download it. I've got to tell you, I just can't get excited about this movie. Although this is the best footage I've seen from the flick, I'm still not looking forward to it. Universal announced that the film received better test audience responses than The Mummy Returns. Hmmmm, that's interesting. Following this, was a trailer for Undercover Brother with Eddie Griffin. No thanks. This movie doesn't look appealing to me at all, but then you never can tell. Finally, we got a look a The Bourne Identity which many of you have probably already seen the trailer to. It looks pretty good, despite obvious shades of Memento. Matt Damon looks convincing and I'm interested to see how Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) handles an action movie.

Finally, it was on to the feature.

About a Boy features Hugh Grant as Will Freeman, a sort of womanizing playboy with a lot of time on his hands. Tired of all the complications that come with dating, he discovers that getting involved with single mothers is a lot less troublesome. He begins meeting woman through SPAT, a single mothers focus group. This eventually leads him to distraught single mom Toni Collette and her bright yet strange son (played by effective new comer Nicholas Hault). Freeman begins to bond with the young lad, and soon becomes a better man because of it.

About a Boy is harmless, mindless fluff. The screenplay was a tad to sappy for my taste, but I did enjoy all the performances, particularly Grant's. While we've seen him play this role time and time again, he excels at it thanks to a swagger, a sharp wit, and an impeccable sense of comic timing.

Although About a Boy does manage to go in unexpected directions (an expected romance between Grant and Collette never occurs), I never found the relationships in this picture to be fully developed. Nor do we ever really see a transformation take place in Freeman. Sure, he becomes a better man, but can it be attributed from what he learned from Hault? I don't think so.

Everything becomes tied up with an all too obvious ending in which everyone lives happily ever after. And before anyone calls me a cynic, I'd like to say that I'm often moved by stories of this nature when there told more effectively. Hell, I think Return to Me is one of the best and most underrated romantic comedies to come out of Hollywood in a long time.

While About a Boy isn't a terrible movie, I wouldn't rush out to see it again. It is well acted and the Weitz's mean well, but the movie never really rises above standard fare. However, one thing is for certain. About a Boy does manage to offer more memorable moments than either of the American Pie movies.

On a sidenote, the Badly Drawn Boy soundtrack was fantastic!

That's about it for today. I did bump into Ebert and Roeper, but arrived too late to attend their seminar. Thursday, I'll be seeing a screening of the new Adam Sandler opus, Mr. Deeds. I'm also hoping to get into the Columbia/Sony party (hopefully, there will be some new Spider-Man and Men in Black 2 stuff). Finally, I'd love nothing more than to crash the Awards banquet. Steven Spielberg is getting the lifetime achievement award. I've never had a chance to meet him, and it would certainly be a dream come true. I came close last month at the E.T. screening during the Winter Games. Alas, he was shooting Catch Me if You Can and was unable to make it. I'm guessing he will be at Sho West. Anyway, I'll send you another report later.

Adam