About Adam (2000)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Gerard Stembridge

Writer:

Gerard Stembridge (writer)

Release Date:

19 January 2001 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

He came. He saw. He conquered. One sister at a time.

Plot:

A waitress falls for a handsome customer who seduces her, her two sisters, her brother, and her brother's girlfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Multiple Perspectives | Seduction | Ireland | Infidelity | Female Bare Foot

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Tommy Tiernan	...	Simon
Kate Hudson	...	Lucy Owens
Frances O'Connor	...	Laura Owens
Stewart Roche	...	Customer #1
Aoife Maloney	...	Customer #2
Donal Beecher	...	Andy
Stuart Townsend	...	Adam
Rosaleen Linehan	...	Peggy Owens
Charlotte Bradley	...	Alice Owens Rooney
Alan Maher	...	David Owens
Brendan Dempsey	...	Martin Rooney
Cathleen Bradley	...	Karen
Kathy Downes	...	Dympna
Mark Smith	...	Dracula
Roger Gregg	...	Prof. Harry McCormick

Also Known As:

All About Adam (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

Argentina:98 min | Peru:98 min | Spain:98 min | UK:97 min | USA:105 min

Country:

Ireland | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:L | Peru:18 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

[Adam, Lucy and Lucy’s mother are all driving in Adam jaguar after taking a hike in a park]
Peggy Owens: I could get used to this car. Did you tell her the story, by the way?
Adam: No, I didn't.
Lucy Owens: What?
Peggy Owens: All the interesting things you find out when you're out on a mountain stroll.
Lucy Owens: Tell me what?
Peggy Owens: Can we tell her? A very simple lovely story. Even though he was very young when his mummy and daddy died, Adam always remembered, as a little fella, that when they went for walks they used to pass by this big fancy car sales place and his dad had a big thing about this particular car, a Jaguar.
Adam: "Just look at that Jag," he'd say. I thought it must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Peggy Owens: His dad was always promising his mum that when they had a bit of money to splash out, that he'd buy her one. Do you know what this little beauty did? Years after, when he turned eighteen and got the bit of money that was left to him he used it all to buy this car to remember them by.
Lucy Owens: Adam, why didn't you tell me? Hmm?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

LOVE UNLIMITED

A smart, funny comedy

About Adam received new life after Kate Hudson became almost famous. But while Hudson plays a key role this film is, quite literally, about Adam, as played wonderfully by Stuart Townsend. The film begins with young Irish singing waitress Lucy, as played by Hudson with an Irish accent that comes and goes, meeting the mysterious Adam. She immediately falls for him and their new romance proceeds happily along. Lucy brings Adam home to meet the family and here things get turned on their head. After seeing the story play out from Lucy's perspective we go back and revisit the same time period from different points of view, those of Lucy's two sisters and brother. It soon becomes apparent that Adam is not quite what he seems and that he has become much closer to Lucy's family than she would ever believe.

Frances O'Connor as the quiet, bookish Laura and Charlotte Bradley as the unhappily married Alice will each strike up their own serious relationship with Adam. As we see each of the sisters' stories unfold it puts a new spin on all that we have seen before. Even Lucy's brother finds himself oddly attracted to Adam while Lucy floats along completely oblivious to all that is swirling around her. Each of the key roles is performed well and enough time is given to allow us to explore the motivations of each of these characters. If we didn't really get to know these people and what drives them, everyone involved could come off rather badly, especially Townsend's Adam. But the director makes each character sympathetic enough and it all ties together very well.

A clever script, mostly terrific acting, intriguing characters, wonderful Irish scenery and a very smart plot device that adds a unique twist to everything...About Adam has a lot going for it. It's a smart, funny, enjoyable ride.