Adam (2009)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A lot of fun.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

I recorded this movie on TV and watched it only weeks later. At first I thought: "all right ,yet another Hollywood movie trying to tackle a "problem" winding up in some corny love drama." Here's where I was wrong...When I first met the character Adam (Hugh Dancy),who's struggling with the Asperger syndrome, I figured he would act according to the stereotype: weird, not sociable and what not.Well, he did but also did much more than that. Once again: I'm glad I was wrong.As the movie progresses and Adam meets his new neighbor Beth (Rose Byrne),they actually develop a relationship. But a relationship is never easy and clearly Max Mayer understands that. They both deal with real life issues like the loss of a loved one or getting fired. On top of that Beth deals with the Asperger of Adam too. It is realistic and romantic at the same time and carries you away for 99 min. of another view on what, until today, remains a taboo.Summarized: I really enjoyed this movie and Hugh Dancy did a marvelous job at putting down this character as believable as possible. Rose Byrne deserves all the credit as well. Together they did a hell of a job and clearly worked as a team. I recommend this movie for pretty much everyone. It doesn't matter if you're looking because it's about autism or because you like romantic movies. This movie will make you watch until the end.I promise.

I bought 'Adam' on a bit of a whim really. I didn't really know any of the actors involved or much about Aspergers itself so I went into it without any preconceptions.What follows is a strange mix of Drama and Romantic Comedy with the relationship between the two leads being both complex and at times heartwarming. I think the DVD sleeve makes it out to be more of a fluffy Rom-com than what it actually is and the mental illness side is as much a part of it as the lighter moments.I know some people have been negative about the ending but for me it is an ultimately hopeful one that breaks the conventions that we are normally used to in films these days. This isn't a film you can easily put into a genre category but if you stick with it, it is a charming film.

Adam is part of an unfortunate trend I'm starting to notice from Hollywood - the trend of the unhappy ending. It is one of those failed romance movies. A movie about a "romance" that ultimately leaves us all alone. It tries miserably to buy us off at the end with the ex-girlfriend sending the ex-boyfriend a book for a present, which he sits and reads all alone on a park bench, with all indications being that he will live and dies all alone, too, because some bad writing in a couple of crucial scenes all but destroyed what will probably be the single chance at companionship this "unattractively" quirky guy gets in his entire life.The movie makes a passing remark about how many people with asperger's DO get married and have their happily ever after. Why in god's name didn't they make a movie about one of THOSE couples? I normally try to avoid rubbish like this, but due to some misleading advertising, I was under the impression it gave asperger's a chance to show off it's interesting characteristic and to receive a little love from the universe. I was under the impression that for once, a shy guy without that George Clooney-esque cockiness would get the girl of his dreams. I wound up watching it, and without researching it on Wikipedia first. Both these things were huge mistakes. The movie sets you up only to knock you down. It warms your heart only so you don't see the sucker punch waiting for it.I'd like to make a plea not just to the makers of this movie, but to all of Hollywood. We don't need you to make us miserable, break our hearts and tear down our hopes. That's what real life is for. We come to you for happiness and comfort. We come to you to inspire us, to help us believe that good things can come true - that we can overcome our obstacles and find what it is we're looking for and have it to keep for the rest of our lives.We don't need you to tell us that the universe severely punishes the weird, for being weird. We don't need you to tell us that the losers are gonna lose. Most of us know all that. And most of us want to be able to believe in a better world. Please, give us that much. You get our $15 for the tickets either way.

Spoiler Alert. The movie is well written until the last 1/4. It becomes predictable and unoriginal, it neglects to take the movie as far as it should go almost as a means of protecting the hearts of the audience. For the movie to receive a rating higher than a 6 and be deemed a classic, Adam has to die. If he did the movie would be on par with other screenplay masterpieces, but because he doesn't it becomes nothing more than just another decent movie. Don't get me wrong the movie was enjoyable, but the ending just left me slightly upset that Mayer wasn't capable of fully weaving greatness into the conclusion. I recommend the movie, but just don't get your hopes up to be amazed by the ending, because it will let you down.