Rent It: Adam

New to DVD is Adam, the story of a young man living with Asperger's Syndrome, which is basically a high functioning form of autism. After his father dies, Adam, played by the very handsome Hugh Dancy, must learn to make new relationships in order to function in the world.

Adam, who is incredibly smart, has a job working on micro processors, and is obsessed with space. He often provides people he meets with more information about telescopes, stars, or the like, than they would ever care to know. One day he meets Beth, played by Rose Byrne, one of my favorite young actresses, who recently moved into his building. Beth immediately finds him attractive, and they develop a friendship rather quickly.

Although Adam is certainly quirky, Beth doesn’t find out that he has Asperger's until later on. Once he tells her about his condition, his lack of affect and inability to read other people’s emotions is put into context. As they continue to spend time together, they develop a romantic relationship. Although she's warned by her family that her relationship with Adam is unlikely to go anywhere, she finds herself in love with him. The only problem is whether Adam is capable of loving her in a manner that will make their relationship work for both parties. Can Adam give her the emotional support she needs as she is in the midst of a family crisis or must she always take care of him?

This is one of the best films I’ve seen lately. It is poignant, funny, and delivers all the things that a great movie should. Viewers can emotionally connect with the characters, allowing the story to come to life in a way that almost feels personal. It is artfully shot and the acting is superb. More than that, it tells a truly interesting story about the ways in which people form relationships, whether they have difficult obstacles to overcome, such as learning to communicate effectively with someone like Adam, or are dealing with something more rudimentary like ironing out issues with your parents, as Beth does. If you are looking for a fine film that will make you laugh, and possibly cry, then rent or buy Adam.