BUMBLING batchelors have been Hugh Grant's stock-in-trade, but in his new film, About a Boy, he sports a spiky hair-do and shows he is more than just a mane of floppy hair.

He plays Will Lightman, a rich, child-free and irresponsible Londoner in his late 30s who, in search of available women, invents an imaginary son and starts attending single-parent meetings.

Will lives off the profits of as Christmas jingle penned by his father and has never done a hard day's graft in his life.

Then he meets charms suicidal, hippy mother Fiona (Toni Collette), and reluctantly accepts the role of surrogate father to her troubled 12-year-old son Marcus (Nicholas Hoult).

The relationship brings out Will's paternal side, forces him to see the error of his ways and to finally grow up.

Paul and Chris Weisz, the men behind the original American Pie, opt for a radical change of direction with this adaptation of Nick Hornby's international best-seller, which explored how screwed up men become when it comes to love - a universal theme if ever there was one.

In the process they have helmed a success, striking a delicate balance between comedy and tragedy against the backdrop of present day London.

Grant stretches himself in the lead role. He copes effortlessly with the humour, but also brings a sensitivity and genuine warmth to his hapless hero.

Collette is heart-breaking in her role and youngster Hoult is a natural in front of the camera.

His relationship with Grant is completely believable - and theclimactic scene at a school talent contest is guaranteed to have audiences cheering in the aisles.