 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
About Adam
- Review Date: May 18, 2003
- R
- Genre: Romance
- 2001
Common Sense Media says
Charming but explicit love story for mature teens.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the movie has strong language, and fairly explicit sexual references and situations, including infidelity and (unconsummated) homosexual feelings. Characters drink, sometimes to excess, and they smoke. There are some tense scenes, but no violence.
What's the story?
ABOUT ADAM begins as a sweet, simple love story. A flirtatious waitress named Lucy (Kate Hudson) falls for a man named Adam (Stuart Townsend). All the other men in Lucy's life pursued her, but Adam lets her take the lead. Once she does, he is charming to her family, and a thoughtful and romantic boyfriend. She proposes to him in front of a restaurant full of people, including her whole family, and he accepts. Then the clock turns back and viewers see the same set of events through the eyes of Lucy' siblings, all of whom have romantic problems for which Adam seems to provide the ideal solution. Lucy's sister Laura (Frances O'Connor), a graduate student, dreams of a man with whom she can share the poetry that is so meaningful to her. Their brother David is about to explode with longing for his girlfriend, a virgin who says she wants to stay that way. And another sister, bored with her marriage, would like some excitement. Somehow, Adam provides it all, and then some.
Is it any good?
It's fun to see what is going on behind the scenes of the original story, and there are some sly parallels, as when different family members hear different stories about Adam's fancy car. The story could be cynical -- after all, it is about betrayal, deception, and infidelity. But Adam's ability to go straight to the heart of each person's desire gives it a whimsical, almost magical tone that keeps it as light as a bubble. Hudson has less of a star turn than she had in "Almost Famous," but she is bewitching, especially when she sings the standards that provide a nice ironic counterpoint to the various love stories.
And love stories they are. Adam is not manipulative and indeed might think of himself as happily manipulated by others. He is not trying to do anything but make everyone happy, and he has such a knack for it that even the audience cannot help being a little charmed.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how Adam figured out what each member of the family wanted, and how the various secrets and lies around his involvement with each of them might create problems in the future. They might also want to talk about times when they have felt pressure to be something different in order to make someone happy.
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Adult
May 26, 2010
AGE
I think I'll be viewing this soon, but I wouldn't recommend it for children.
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Kid, 9 years old
April 2, 2010
AGE
About Adam
Rated R For Language And Sexuality
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
March 1, 2013
AGE
Did you seriously see the cover of this?
Right when you see the cover, it should tell you it is NOT FOR KIDS!
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Gerard Stembridge |
| Cast: | Frances O'Connor, Kate Hudson, Stuart Townsend |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 11, 2001 |
| DVD release date: | October 23, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language and sexuality |
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