Adam

Those who like unusual, offbeat, uplifting stories will enjoy this intimate glimpse into the life of a young man with Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disorder on the high-functioning autism spectrum that makes it difficult not only to communicate feelings and concerns but also to comprehend those of others. Having lived a highly structured, regimented life, Adam Raki (Hugh Dancy) is a brilliant, 29-year-old electronics engineer who is fired from his job as a toy designer and now fears losing his New York City apartment because he can't pay the mortgage. Making his task even more challenging is his lack of the ordinary social skills necessary for a job interview; instead of conversing, geeky Adam awkwardly delivers lengthy discourses on topics such as space exploration, astronomy, raccoons foraging in Central Park, and the history of some Off-Broadway theaters—unable to interpret cues that he's boring others beyond endurance. Adam's new neighbor, Beth (Rose Byrne), an elementary school teacher and aspiring children's book author, comes to his rescue and eventually the pair become romantically involved, much to the consternation of her parents (Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving), who are going through their own overly contrived life crises. Writer-director Max Mayer falters in his wobbly plot narrative, but he elicits multifaceted, naturalistic performances, while avoiding superficial shortcuts and stereotypes. Blending light comedy with pathos, Adam explores an unusual, bittersweet relationship that demands compromises and courage, and the film delivers an epilogue that's both convincing and satisfying. Recommended. (S. Granger)