Adam DVD Review

Adam is a February 2nd romantic comedy DVD release from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Directed by Max Mayer, the movie was the winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, awarded to a film which excels in addressing compelling topics in science or technology at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Adam (Emmy award nominee Hugh Dancy of Confessions of a Shopaholic and Beyond the Gates) is a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition also known as high functioning autism.  His father just died six weeks ago and he is left to fend for himself after he is let go from his job as an electrical engineer.

Beth Buchwald (Emmy award nominee Rose Byrne of “Damages” and 28 Weeks Later) is a brainy, beautiful teacher who moves in next door to Adam.   Beth is intrigued by Adam’s good looks at their first encounter on the front steps.  She makes a few subtle moves to catch Adam’s attention before realizing that his inability to ‘get it’ is more than him just being a typical guy.

Adam, like others with Asperger’s, has an obsession.  He loves science and astronomy.  He also struggles with knowing when to turn off his relentless talk about it.  After a few brief interactions, Adam discloses his condition to Beth.  He wants her to understand why he struggles with basic social interaction and why it is hard for him to go out with her friends and into public places.

As their relationship develop, Adam becomes more reliant on Beth for support and she becomes more enamored with Adam’s gentleness, but also his uniqueness.  Ultimately, the question she must answer is whether she and Adam are in love or are simply dependent on each other.

Beth’s father (Peter Gallagher) is a major factor in a sub-plot of the story.  He is dealing with allegations of accounting fraud, which could cost him money and prison time.  He is very adamant that Beth not get deeply involved with Adam because his differences would only hold her back.

Other supporting stars in Adam are Amy Irving (Yentl, Crossing Delancy) and Frankie Faison (“The Wire,” Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist).  However, there is no question it is the relationship between Adam and Beth and the chemistry between the actors, Dancy and Byrne, that makes Adam one of the more unique and heartwarming romantic comedies on DVD in 2010.

Ironically, Adam released on DVD just a few days before Dancy’s real life girlfriend Clare Danes portrayed Temple Granden in a made for TV movie on HBO Saturday, February 6th.  Granden is arguably the most famous person known to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Her story is fascinating and inspiring to families affected by Autism and parents of children with Autism.  Dancy and Danes should have a lot to discuss about their experiences.

It is hard to assess the quality of performance of someone portraying an Autistic character since the Autism Spectrum Disorder is best known for the wide range and severity of symptoms people face.  Some critics and viewers have suggested that Dancy was not as ‘quirky’ or ‘odd’ as a high functioning autistic person.  However, again, who could say that his interpretation is not evident of someone with the condition.  A comparison of the Dancy role and the Granden portrayal by Danes shows different personality types and challenges, despite a common set of basic symptoms.

Dancy delivers a solid performance simply by looking at his ability to draw the audience to the gentle and charming side of his personality.  You find yourself rooting for him to succeed and to get the girl.  Byrne is lovely and it is nice to see a story that inspires people to see there is some hope for people on the ASD to find love and a relationship, whether it ultimately leads to forever or not.

If you are a fan of typical romantic comedies, you cannot help but feel an extra bit of emotion for the story of Adam.  You want the couple to make it.  Those “awww” moments that lead to watery eyes in a romantic comedy are especially momentous when you understand the struggles Adam faces to get Beth’s feelings and to know the right things to say and do.  Adam is a very entertaining and very charming romantic comedy movie that offers a character people can connect to high functioning autism, at least as a fictional example.  The most common character identified with Autism is Dustin Hoffman’s Rain Man.  His character, based on the recently deceased Kim Peek, is more representative of what is known as ‘classic autism’.

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 99 minutes
DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010

Grade: A-

Director: Max Mayer
Starring: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Frankie Faison

Adam DVD Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews