ADAM’s ribbed?

(Click here to watch my interview with Hugh Dancy and Max Mayer.)

Romantic comedies thrive on quirk. But in real life, non-conformity doesn’t always charm, more often it distances. People diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome can have trouble fitting in — unless they work for Microsoft where placement on the autism spectrum seems a practical job requirement.

ADAM, written and directed by Max Mayer, is one of the very few feature films to tackle Asperger’s with respect and verisimilitude. That’s why the movie is more dramatic than comedic, yet it still boasts enough humor to counter-balance the difficulties of the courtship of an “Aspie” and a “neuro-typical.” The success of the picture rests on the title performance by Hugh Dancy, surely one of this year’s best. Dancy creates a complex character who earns our sympathies by revealing his inner turmoils with the smallest gestures and the simplest silences. Watch Dancy’s hands and eyes for the subtle brilliance of the choices. The actor refrains from the obvious and the grand, preferring to win the audience over with ADAM‘s humanity not pitiable impairments. Dancy is supported by an able cast including Frankie Faison, Rose Byrne and Amy Irving. (The less said about Peter Gallagher, the kinder I’ll be.)

Having hosted a special preview of ADAM in Seattle, with Mr. Dancy and Mr. Mayer in attendance, I sat down with the high-functioning duo the following day to discuss Asperger’s, the need for social filters and the pitfalls of falling in love. Watch the interview here.