In late 1990s authors of British romantic comedies, euphoric after Tony Blair’s Labour coming to power, enthusiastically promoted concept of “cool Britannia” in their films. Such enthusiasm could be observed even by their colleagues in neighbouring Ireland, equally inspired by the “Celtic Tiger” phenomenon and previously unimaginable social changes that came with new prosperity. One of those was Gerard Stembridge, writer and director of 2000 film About Adam.
The protagonist, played by Stuart Townsend, is Adam, young Dubliner who possesses great charm with which he easily seduces waitress Lucy Owens (played by Kate Hudson). Two of them become engaged, but when Lucy’s nerdish sister Laura (played by Frances O’Connor) expresses romantic interest in her future brother-in-law, he quickly responds in kind. Same things happens with Alice (played by Charlotte Bradley), another sister who uses Adam as a temporary escape from her own monotonous marriage. Even Lucy’s brother David (played by Adam Maher), despite having girlfriend, realises that he is attracted to Adam.
The plot of About Adam defies most of Hollywood conventions. In most other films character of Adam would be ultimately revealed as soulless manipulative psychopath and villain. Stembridge, on the other hand, portrays Adam as someone who is exactly what he looks like – a charming, well-intentioned whose almost childlike innocence is matched with ability to help people around him achieve happiness despite social norms. The norms defied in this film include monogamy and About Adam is in many ways product of its time, when Catholic Church finally began to lose its iron grip on Ireland, thus allowing young generations of the Irish to enjoy freedoms and tolerance towards unconventional lifestyles that the rest of Europe and Western world has already been taking for granted. This vision of new, fresh and “cool” Dublin is brought through unconventional Rashomon-like narrative structure. About Adam works because of the diverse international cast, which includes American actress Kate Hudson who handles Irish accent reasonably well. General impression is spoiled because of the ending which is forced and too conventional in comparison with the rest of the film. Although hardly memorable, About Adam is romantic comedy that could be recommended for less demanding viewers.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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