About Adam (2001)

It's amazing what little gems turn up on late night television. I was about to go to bed when this came on: I got to bed two hours later and spent the next hour laughing.This film is a beautiful light comedy with an unlikely story line, but an ingenious script. It is set in the posh end of Dublin and proves (yet again, if it should be necessary) that Ireland is a lot more than civil war, Catholic repression and dire poverty.It is like one of those glossy romantic comedies of the 1960's in a modern setting. What amazed me was that two of the actresses who played the sisters, seriously pretty Kate Hudson and dark quiet Frances O'Connor, are not Irish at all. Congratulations to dialogue coach, Gerry Grennell - that's not the same Gerry Grennell that plays classical guitar, is it? Two other performances stand out: stylish Charlotte Bradley (a Dub, but not from the posh end) and the evergreen Ros Linehan. Not forgetting the eponymous Adam, Stuart Townsend - what a dream role that was! Anyone who complains about lack of in depth characterisation has probably been watching too much Ingmar Bergman and lost the ability to enjoy a first class light comedy. Real life credibility is not what comedies are about - you just go with the flow and enjoy, despite what appears to have been a family trait of making love almost fully clothed.

About Adam received new life after Kate Hudson became almost famous. But while Hudson plays a key role this film is, quite literally, about Adam, as played wonderfully by Stuart Townsend. The film begins with young Irish singing waitress Lucy, as played by Hudson with an Irish accent that comes and goes, meeting the mysterious Adam. She immediately falls for him and their new romance proceeds happily along. Lucy brings Adam home to meet the family and here things get turned on their head. After seeing the story play out from Lucy's perspective we go back and revisit the same time period from different points of view, those of Lucy's two sisters and brother. It soon becomes apparent that Adam is not quite what he seems and that he has become much closer to Lucy's family than she would ever believe.Frances O'Connor as the quiet, bookish Laura and Charlotte Bradley as the unhappily married Alice will each strike up their own serious relationship with Adam. As we see each of the sisters' stories unfold it puts a new spin on all that we have seen before. Even Lucy's brother finds himself oddly attracted to Adam while Lucy floats along completely oblivious to all that is swirling around her. Each of the key roles is performed well and enough time is given to allow us to explore the motivations of each of these characters. If we didn't really get to know these people and what drives them, everyone involved could come off rather badly, especially Townsend's Adam. But the director makes each character sympathetic enough and it all ties together very well.A clever script, mostly terrific acting, intriguing characters, wonderful Irish scenery and a very smart plot device that adds a unique twist to everything...About Adam has a lot going for it. It's a smart, funny, enjoyable ride.

i lived in Dublin when this film came out and it did catch the spirit of the time. Rich kids, trendy bars, just at the high point of the celtic tiger boom and Kate Hudson got the accent so 'roight' best Irish accent by an American I've heard. Another comment where they say it was useless(he is obviously an American 'top of the to you sor') its called a 'dart' accent. The film was a bit of an odd one alright Adam's personality and dress changes depending who he is wooing but he does it for all the right reasons 'a good shag and sure you'll be as right as rain'. I think it was the best Irish film to come out in a while.

God, Kate Hudson has the worst Irish accent! Stuart is the only one, I know because he is from Ireland, with a real Irish accent. The accents just kept switching back and forth. First it was British and then it was Irish, yadda, yadda, yadda."About Adam" is a cute romantic comedy though. I have to admit it stole my heart for a few seconds. The story is a little odd and sometimes painful to watch, I admit. But if you give it a chance, it isn't so bad. I would give the green light for "About Adam". Especially if you love Stuart Townsend. *drool* Get me a towel! Sorry, sorry. So, if you have some time on your hands, check it out. It's a decent movie.7/10