"I can't recommend seeing this film."

Adam the movie has the exact same problem as Adam the protagonist: It's completely unaware of how the real world works. What should be a coming-out party for Hugh Dancy instead turns into a laugher for the last hour of the running time. That's a shame given that the subject matter could have been interesting and the actors involved are capable.

Adam (Hugh Dancy) has Asperger's syndrome, he's unable to read facial expressions or sarcasm, and he's largely lost in a world that requires constant human contact. Adam isolates himself -- for instance, his job is creating electronics for children's toys. His father has recently passed away, which leaves Adam in a rough place. He doesn't know how to relate ... and he's all alone.

Enter Rose Byrne as Beth, who's recently moved into Adam's building. She's captivated by his offbeat way of thinking and their relationship (or lack of relationship) drives the rest of the film. It could have worked, and it might have if everything wasn't so heavy-handed and jarring. There doesn't seem to be any room for enlightenment, instead we're left disliking the main character ... for being legitimately chemically different.

Where Adam misfires is after the initial set-up. We're informed on Adam's condition, we're given concrete examples of how he's different, and we're introduced to Beth. So far, so good. And then ... ugh, just pure silliness. They can't get along (because he's different). Communication is tough (because he's different!!!). Her parents don't like him (wanna guess why?). But nowhere along the line is it easy to empathize with anything occurring on screen. You can't root for the characters presented. Ideally you're hoping the film ends soon, only it doesn't. It continues. Trust me, I was there.

So no, I can't recommend seeing this film. I don't think it educates or enlightens, instead it delves into a more soap opera-ish method of storytelling. If you're going to present a tale of mental troubles at least have the heart to make the guy impressive a la Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind. Or give us a sidekick we can pour our heart into a la Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind. But a film without much in the way of arc, entertainment, or ambition? Ah, you can keep that to yourself.

Grade: C-

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