Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching, mature road comedy about people with disabilities.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Come as You Are
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In COME AS YOU ARE, 24-year-old paraplegic Scotty (Grant Rosenmeyer), who's unhappy with his life, usually lashes out with sarcasm. At his regular therapy center, Scotty takes an instant dislike to handsome newcomer Matt (Hayden Szeto), a former athlete who's lost the use of his legs. But when Scotty finds out about a brothel in Canada that services those with disabilities, he dreams up a plan to lose his virginity. First he must recruit two others in order to rent a wheelchair-accessible van. Matt is a likely candidate, and so is 35-year-old, legally blind Mo (Ravi Patel), who works at the clinic and is also a virgin. To start, Scotty and Matt must escape from their worrying, controlling parents -- but then they must contend with their driver, Sam, who unexpectedly turns out to be a woman (Gabourey Sidibe), and one who isn't about to take any guff from anyone.
Is It Any Good?
A remake of a 2011 Belgian film, this funny, heartwarming road comedy perfectly translates to English and also smoothly overcomes the potential pitfalls of too many creaky formula twists. Director Richard Wong brings the same kind of surprising freshness to Come as You Are that was evident in his delightful (and little-seen) Colma: The Musical. He somehow transcends cliché with a burst of sheer brightness and joy. On paper, the four main characters could easily be "types," locked into certain behaviors, but the writing, directing, and acting bring them all to life.
Rosenmeyer is plenty of fun, with his own brand of swagger. He's loud, rude, and infantile but still somehow lovable; he comes from a place of hurt and truth. The other characters also effectively layer levels of humanity into their performances, making them pop into three dimensions. The parents -- delightfully played by Janeane Garofalo and C.S. Lee, among others -- are likewise heartfelt, not just pursuing buzzkillers. Better still, Come as You Are is brave enough to take the final step, exploring precisely what a sexual encounter actually means for these men, without being graphic, and coming up with a most satisfying conclusion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Come as You Are depicts sex. What values are imparted? Is sex a transaction or something to be shared?
How are characters with disabilities portrayed? Are they admirable? Are they humanly flawed and entertaining? Are they stereotypes?
How is drinking portrayed? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What's the appeal of the "road movie"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 14, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2020
- Cast : Grant Rosenmeyer , Hayden Szeto , Ravi Patel
- Director : Richard Wong
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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