Quickcard Review Adam

Directed by: Max Mayer Cast: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher Running Time: 1 hr 37 mins Rating: PG-13 Release August 21, 2009 (Portland)

CLICK HERE to read De Salvo's complete Scorecard Review - 8/10 CLICK HERE to read De Salvo's interview with Hugh Dancy and Julie Byrne CLICK HERE to read De Salvo's interview with director Max Mayer

Plot: When a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome (Dancy) meets his new neighbor Beth (Byrne), he has a difficult time showing her he wants more. Beth comes with her own baggage of getting out of an unhealthy relationship and being daddy's little girl.

Who’s It For? This is a romantic drama for people who want something unique. Asperger's Syndrome isn't widely discussed, but that's not all this movie is about. It's about searching for yourself through your relationships with others.

OVERALL

You've got to be patient with Adam and you have to be patient with Adam. The movie unfolds slowly and we aren't sure of what Adam has that makes him slightly off. We're brought into Adams' world, and patients pays off. We learn to respect Adam and the difficult social life he leads. Dancy does put Asperger's Syndrome on the map. I didn't know anything about this difficulty before the film, and Dancy gives it the attention and performance it deserves.

Surrounding him is ... well, a Lifetime movie. Beth seems really nice, but we aren't given much insight into why she'll willing to dive into the baggage that comes with Adam. She seems to want a social life, and to show Adam off, but she doesn't give Adam the time or space to slowly do this under his terms. And the whole, "daddy's little girl" thing ... it's never fun to watch. Peter Gallagher plays the father who can do no wrong, or so he says. His judgment and advice is supposed to be gold, but just like that accent, we can see to easily it's a little fake.

Mayer makes some mistakes with his story. I really liked the training montage of Adam practicing his interviewing skills, but I desparately needed the payoff of actually seeing the interview. How did Mayer not think that was important?

Doing something different is always nice. And since Asperger's Syndrome is a new topic, Adam has an intriguing angle. Dancy is solid throughout the film, and you never feel like you're watching an actor try and perform. I just never felt desperate for Adam and Beth. The love story didn't hook me for the long haul.

Final Score: 6/10