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PILOT REVIEW: About a Boy

ABOUT A BOY










Starring: David Walton, Benjamin Stockham, Anjelah Johnson, Al Madrigal, and Minnie Driver

Created for Television by Jason Katims
Written by Jason Katims, Directed by Jon Favreau

About a Boy is a new sitcom from Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) based on the 1998 novel and 2002 movie of the same name. In this incarnation, Will Freeman (David Walton) is a bachelor and playboy without much tying him down. He strikes up an unusual friendship with the nerdy kid next door, Marcus (Benjamin Stockham) despite objections from Marcus' vegan, uptight mother Fiona (Minnie Driver). Rounding out the main cast is Will's best friend, Andy (Al Madrigal).

THE GOOD: There was a lot to like in this promising pilot. David Walton was great in the short-lived Bent as well as a recurring role on New Girl, and now he has a chance to shine in a role that fits him well. He plays the disengaged yet caring bachelor role well and has a lot of funny facial expressions in reaction to the oddities going on around him. Benjamin Stockham is off to a great start in a year where there have been lots of good child actors. The dynamic between Walton and Stockham is the strength of the show and it needs to be, since that's the whole point of the show. And like Katims' dramas, it tugs at the heart strings at the end of the show with a very sweet conclusion to the pilot.

THE BAD: I wasn't sold on Minnie Driver in the pilot. She reminds me a little bit of a less cooky version of Michaela Watkins' character from Trophy Wife. I guess my problem was she seemed a little bit too much like a "type" and Katims' shows are always so grounded in reality with real people and less stereotypes but the new-age, vegan character who meditates is becoming more of a sitcom cliche. It works a little better on a sillier show like Trophy Wife, but for a show that seems like it's going to veer towards sentimental moments, it doesn't really fit.

BOTTOM LINE: Unlike NBC's new comedy offers from the fall, About a Boy shows real potential. It has a very sweet center to it and Jason Katims hasn't let me down yet with two of my favorite TV dramas: Friday Night Lights and Parenthood. That alone would be enough for me to give this show time to grow but the promising pilot only helped its cause.
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