Hugh Dancy | pinartarhan.com

Adam starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Lovely romantic drama/comedy from 2009. Photo: http://thewarrenreport.com/wp-content/uploads/adam.jpg

Adam (Hugh Dancy) is a 29-year-old guy living in New York. He has recently lost his dad, his boss isn’t thrilled by him and is struggling to lead a normal life, despite his Asperger’s Syndrome.

Beth (Rose Byrne) is Adam’s new neighbor. Beth easily starts a friendship with him, without noticing his condition at first. However their friendship continues and strengthens afterwards. They manage to start a relationship despite Adam’s social awkwardness. Adam’s inevitable honesty is like a breath of fresh air after her previous relationship. Things could have gone more smoothly however, without Beth’s father’s (Peter Callagher) current run-in with the law and his disapproval of Adam.

This is one of the sweetest stories ever. I read that a lot of people with Asperger’s found Hugh’s performance as quite natural and true and frankly, in this case they are the movie critics we should listen to.

I always like watching Hugh Dancy. True, he is given a lot of romantic roles but it is like he is made for them. I don’t mean to underestimate his talent. It does take chops to take on some of the roles (The Jane Austen Book Club, Confessions of a Shopaholic…), he had and manage to differentiate them from another. He pulls of a great American accent and his baby face comes in handy when portraying Adam’s innocence. I like watching Rose Byrne. You might catch her in the law drama/thriller Damages co-starring with Glen Close. Amy Irving and Peter Callagher play Beth’s parents.

This is a romantic comedy but it is not your typical romcom in so many ways. Adam’s interactions with people in general and Beth’s relationship with her family adds a lot of necessary drama. Your funny moments aren’t laugh-out-loud cases. Instead, they intend to make you smile. And it works. You watch the movie with a big smile on your face most of the time.

7.3 on IMDB. Because of it is dramatic elements and (I am guessing high rating) a lot of people have been reminded of 500 Days of Summer. Actually plotwise or structurewise, they have virtually nothing in common. And Adam’s love is reciprocated from day 1. But if you do like your romances a little bittersweet, yes, I can see some similar mood setting. I prefer Adam, though. Written and directed by Max Mayer.

Recommended Film

Snow Cake starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie- Anne Moss

Other Hugh Dancy Posts:

The Jane Austen Book Club

The British Actors We Love: The Hughs

6 Hollywood Couples: Gorgeous, Glamorous and Happy Together

Adam Trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92U6OnVZG3U&NR=1&feature=fvwp[/pro-player]

jane-austen-book-club2 — The Jane Austen Book Club Maria Bello, Hugh Dancy, Kevin Zegers and Emily Blunt

Jocelyn (Maria Bello), Kathy Baker (Bernie), Amy Brenneman (Sylvia), Prudie (played by Emily Blunt- is brought to the group by Bernie) are all friends with distinctly different personalities and chosen life paths. Sylvia is married to her high school sweetheart, who happens to be Jocelyn’s ex. Her husband has left her for another woman and she is not taking this very well. Their lesbian daughter is not too happy about her dad’s affair either and she seeks happiness through the extreme sports. Jocelyn is beautiful, single, loves dogs and as much as she enjoys fixing people up, she doesn’t seem that interested in dating herself. Bernie seems to be the quirky and extra colorful one. She has been married many times yet she is not the least pessimistic about romance and relationships. She is also friends with the French teacher Prudie who considers herself much more European. She is married to Dean (Marc Blucas) who doesn’t match her intellectually and they don’t seem to have much in common anyway. One of her students- appropriately played by the sexy Kevin Zegers has set his eyes on her and she is ready and willing to be seduced. After all this might really spice up her otherwise very dull and predictable life.

The women decide to start a book club, reading Jane Austen’s novels. It will be fun and it is supposed to provide distraction for…..When Jocelyn meets the younger and cute Grigg (Hugh Dancy), she decides to include him in the book club- secretly planning to hook him up with Sylvia. Of course sci-fi nut Grigg has agreed to be in the club to get close to Jocelyn.

Months pass by as this group reads, gathers and talks about the books. We see the relationships developed- and the comparisons/resemblance to real life events/characters as more funny and complicated events follow. After all, Jocelyn doesn’t seem all that pleased with her own matchmaking plans after a while.

Yes, this is I guess easily a chick flick. But if a guy is in the complaining mode about women and not figuring about what they want and why they want that stuff, it might wash over well. And Dancy’s character provides a lovely take on sci-fi and why it is not simply about “aliens and spaceships” but rather people – he insists that Jocelyn reads his favorites. It is all in the name of good fun as sexes gather a better understanding of each other through classic novels. And it helps if you like Austen.