Adam Riki (Hugh Dancy) has Asperger’s syndrome. Though he’s extremely smart, his autistic condition makes it hard for him to fit in socially. Adam has lived a sheltered and extremely routine life, but this all changes when he meets his new neighbor, Beth Buchwald (Rose Byrne).
At first, Beth doesn’t understand his odd behavior. She’s a bit shocked to come home one night to find him washing her windows, but his reasoning is so sincere and understandable that she catches a glimpse of the world Adam lives in. Eventually Beth learns how to understand and to communicate with him. She helps Adam know how to cope in social settings and to enjoy new things. They eventually fall in love, but it’s their friendship and what they learn from each other that stand the test of time.
This film is rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexuality and language. A charming and clever story, Adam certainly contains the redeeming value of teaching the public about Asperger’s. But ultimately the worldview, sex and language make this film inappropriate for teens.
