Movie Review: About Adam (2000)

Genre: Romantic Comedy  
Director: Gerard Stembridge  

Starring: Stuart Townsend, Kate Hudson, Frances O'Connor  

Running Time: 105 minutes  

Synopsis: In Dublin, waitress and part-time singer Lucy (Kate Hudson) finally stumbles upon a seemingly perfect boyfriend in Adam (Stuart Townsend). Lucy is close to her two sisters, the bookish Laura (Frances O'Connor) and the married Alice (Charlotte Bradley), and brother David, who has a girlfriend Karen. Lucy and Adam seem to be edging towards a marriage proposal, but unknown to Lucy, Adam is also busy fulfilling the romantic needs of her other family members.

What Works Well: This Irish-based rom-com dares to challenge the genre's fundamental formula. Adam is more of a naughty cupid catalyst than a standard lover, and his self-assigned duty is to nudge multiple unsuspecting romantic partners towards better outcomes. Director Gerard Stembridge feints a traditional structure for the first act, before confidently navigating a sharp left turn to reveal what else Adam has been up to during his flirtation with Lucy. The sheer scope of manipulative ambitions deserves applause.

What Does Not Work As Well: It's all too easy for Adam to seduce every member of Lucy's orbit, his button-pushing expertise and ability to juggle multiple hidden commitments eroding any sense of reality. Perhaps out of necessity, Adam remains an undefined presence available as a fill-in-the-blank fantasy to break out of emotional ruts.

Key Quote:

Adam: I like to give people what they want, if I can. Whatever makes them happy it's a very easy thing for me to do.

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