Telling the story of a socially challenged guy and a beautifully smart girl, Adam had the chance to be normal. But, in an effort to spice things up a bit, director Max Mayer opted for a more challenging task, giving his characters intriguing personalities and minds all their own. The confrontations, though a regular occurrence, prove to be a growing process, one that will allows each person to discover who they truly are, and finally make a decision that is best suited for them. The end result is anything but ordinary, paving way for an inventive film; one with heart, sentiment and a little thing called love.
In the film, Adam, played by Hugh Dancy, suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that primarily affects the social skills. He is fairly normal in all other terms, perhaps even overly brilliant; yet when he gets put into a crowd, he becomes overwhelmed, never knowing the correct thing to say. He is unable to understand jokes and quickly becomes lost in conversations containing metaphors or exaggerations. Still, amid all of this, he is cute, caring and adorable to watch and care for. His slightest movements, often made timidly, bring about a rush of sympathy as you long for him to find his soul mate.
On the other side of the spectrum is Beth, perfectly played by Rose Byrne. Serving as the story's narrator, Beth is our main source of information. She is a lighthearted girl, whom fate has just had move into the apartment above Adam's. She is a pleasant sight on the eyes, and finds Adam's personality adorable. Her advances, though obvious to the common eye, are overlooked by our male lead, which makes her long for him more, giving the film its cleverly placed complex.
But in all reality, the story is really much more complicated than it appears to be. Both Adam and Beth are overcoming hard emotional times as Adam's father has just passed away and Beth's is currently on trial for fraud. Both are in a state of vulnerability, needing someone to clutch to and make everything right.
It is this commonality, along with their fateful meeting in the apartment's laundry mat, that helps get these two going. Together, their personalities feed off one another, sending a feeling of emotional bliss and security to their counterpart. Their interactions are seamless, creating a believable relationship that we all long to experience.
The ending, though heartfelt and right, is a huge turning point in the lives of all those involved. It is at this point, that you are brought back to Earth, realizing that through it all, we are who we are, no matter how much we wish to change. The outcome is perfect for the story as you discover something new about yourself, noting that the film has hit on a universal level, becoming a mirror to the world that we live and breath in everyday.
Do yourself a favor and be sure to catch Adam. It is, without a doubt, one of the best movies I have seen all year, and a great watch no matter what your story. You will be touched, and in this day and age, we could all use a little heartfelt emotion in our overly hectic lives.
