If Rose Byrne is in it, I will watch it… and the chances are that I will like it. She has the innate ability to make me happy just by her presence on screen. There is nothing pretentious about her. She appears so relaxed and comfortable in every role. It is as if she was born to act… born to create authentic characters that are easy to empathize with. I think she is the most natural actress in movies today.
In “Adam”, Rose Byrne plays Beth Buchwald, a new tenant in a New York City apartment, who meets the title character while doing her first laundry run. Hugh Dancy plays Adam Raki, the oddball astronomy buff who awkwardly stumbles through some early conversations with the beautiful new girl in the building. Adam suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome — a disease on the Autism scale that makes social interaction rather difficult. What develops is a touching and tender relationship as Beth tries to cope with the complications that arise. “Adam” is a gentle film that navigates a delicate human dynamic with grace and warmth.
Unfortunately, there are some problems with the film. It does get far too cutesy in some scenes and occasionally feels a little charitable towards its subject. I am sure the reality of Asperger’s is not all puppy dogs and ice cream. I am not 100% sold on Hugh Dancy’s performance. It is hard to gauge how accurately he portrays the illness, but there are moments that do not ring true to me. There is also an unnecessary sub-plot involving Beth’s father that exists only to manufacture hollow drama.
Nevertheless, the movie ends in a way that isn’t nearly as contrived as it could have been. I was thankful that the screenplay didn’t feel the need to “go there” with the expected cliché. Rose Byrne is the primary reason to watch the film. She is marvelous. The film is pale in comparison – only a notch above cable-TV-movie fare.
