Adam

Can You Handle the Truth?

I just watched this movie last night and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Call me a big geek, I’m not afraid, but the movie brings to mind that old song from back in’91 by C&C Music Factory, 'Things That Make You Go Hmm'. I know, I know, but that’s the first thing I said when the movie ended. “Hmm,” and I haven’t stopped.

It’s a story about aAdam (Hugh Dancy) Asperger’s Syndrome and his new neighbor, Beth (Rose Byrne) who moves in upstairs. The romance that ensues is intriguing and slightly awkward (as you might imagine). The morals to the story are numerous, the quotable quotes are…well…quotable and the warm fuzzies produced at the end come unexpectedly.

One of the morals I found very profound but simple was the idea of truth telling. Adam talks about his inability to understand what other people are feeling or thinking. Beth then, has to learn how to tell him exactly what she wants or does not want and what she is feeling.

Couldn’t we all learn to do that a little better? Saying what we actually mean. Wouldn’t that make our lives/marriages/friendships so much easier? No doubt many of the husbands, boyfriends, fathers and brothers out there are shaking their heads in agreement, I know my husband is. Of course I don’t mean being painfully honest, as The Invention of Lying has taught us. But most of the time, telling people what we really mean saves time that fighting over miscommunication steals from us.

Lastly, but not leastly, I loved the line, speaking of raccoons in Central Park, “They didn’t belong there, but there they were.” Adam shows us by example how even the least equipped person can do things they never thought or believed they could ever do. Hmm?

Motherly Advice: With filtering this movie would be alright for teenagers and above since some sequences of Adam losing his temper and control might be frightening for younger audiences. With my filter settings on medium there was some non-crude sensual dialogue when Adam is telling Beth exactly what he was feeling. Click here for more indepth filtering information.

Danielle’ – Movie Mom who CAN handle the truth