Adam (2009/I)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Max Mayer

Writer:

Max Mayer (written by)

Release Date:

7 August 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story about two strangers. One a little stranger than the other...

Plot:

Adam, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth.

Plot Keywords:

Asperger's Syndrome | Raccoon | Central Park New York City | Macaroni And Cheese | One Word Title

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Hugh Dancy	...	Adam Raki
Rose Byrne	...	Beth Buchwald
Peter Gallagher	...	Marty Buchwald
Amy Irving	...	Rebecca Buchwald
Frankie Faison	...	Harlan
Mark Linn-Baker	...	Sam Klieber
Haviland Morris	...	Lyra
Adam LeFevre	...	Mr. Wardlow
Mike Hodge	...	Judge
Peter O'Hara	...	Williams
John Rothman	...	Beranbaum
Terry Walters	...	Michael
Susan Porro	...	Jen
Maddie Corman	...	Robin
Jeff Hiller	...	Rom

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45298) | Ireland:15A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Olympus Pictures

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In response to Beth's query about what "10 to the negative 39th power" means, Adam states that it is the number represented by a decimal point followed by 39 zeros followed by a "1". Actually, it is the number represented by a decimal point followed by 38 zeros followed by a "1". It is unlikely that an "electronic engineer" such as Adam, with all the mathematical training that that entails, would make such a mistake. (It's also unlikely that a teacher such as Beth, regardless of how low a grade level she taught, would have to ask what "10 to the negative 39th power" means.)

Quotes:

[first lines]
Beth Buchwald: My favorite children's book is about a little prince who came to earth.

Movie Connections:

Features "Inside the Actors Studio: (#3.9)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

A Friendly Face

A breath of fresh air for the rom-com

The chances of you seeing this movie on the big screen are close to zilch since it's had such a limited cinematic release, so be sure to catch it on television or DVD because it is a rom-com with a special edge.

Although the couple are young Americans in New York City, it is the British Hugh Dancy who gives an excellent performance as the eponymous IT professional and amateur stargazer who suffers badly from Asperger's Syndrome, while it is the Australian actress Rose Byrne who is delightful as the young woman willing to make the effort to understand him.

The treatment of AS is handled sensitively, but not without humour, and the ending avoids the temptation to be trite. A real accomplishment then for the American Max Meyer who both wrote and directed and whose previous writing and directing has been almost entirely for the theatre