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WSR Detailed DVD Review
About A Boy
Widescreen
Genre: Comedy Drama

Reviewed In Issue 70 (Mar 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz & Nicholas Hoult

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4
Internet Links
http://www.universalstudios.com/home

Special Features
Includes an 11-minute Spotlight On Location making-of featurette, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz audio commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary by the directors, two music videos, a 21-minute promo for musicians Badly Drawn Boy, the lyrics for


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): 21979
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Rating Reason):

Brief strong language and some thematic elements
(Retail Price): $26.98
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 101
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2002
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 01/14/03
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
(Story): Subscribe Now!
(Music): Subscribe Now!
(Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
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(Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
(Editor): Subscribe Now!
(Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
(Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
(Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
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(Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Picture Information

(Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
(Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
(Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Sound Information

(DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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  WSR Narrative Review
Special Notes:
Also available in a separate full screen version.

Story Synopsis:
Based on the book by Nick Hornby, "About A Boy" tells the story of a smooth-talking, responsibility-avoiding bachelor who learns a lesson about life from a kid. In order to meet attractive single moms, Will Lightman (Grant) invents an imaginary son. But a hopelessly geeky 12-year-old kid named Marcus soon teaches Will that you

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD exhibits a picture that is quite pleasing with colors that can be quite vibrant and nicely balanced with accurate fleshtones and deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with satisfying contrast and shadow delineation, though the picture can have an slightly

Soundtrack:
The Dolby Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack has been nicely recorded, leading to a convincing presentation of the dialogue in terms of natural-sounding tonality. Voices also sound quite well-integrated with the visual settings. The narration is presented at a comfortable listening level without overwhelming the center channel. As expected, the nature of the movie calls for moderation in terms of spatiality. The music provides most of the dimensionality, with a nice sense of expansiveness across the screen, and depth into the surrounds. The spatial distribution of atmospheric effects is rather reserved in nature, as is the low-end. (Perry Sun)