If the other reviews are any reflection, there seems to be a semi boycott on viewing this film by the LGBT community. I would not recommend any straight audiences to go out of their way to see it either, as you will likely be as confused as I was by the relationships. Margaret Qualley is very easy on the eyes though. I would rate this 5.2/10
23 Reviews
Boycott Indie film "Adam" a feeding frenzy of transphobic tropes
kellibusey-079462 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Its like transgender people are laughing at Focus on the Family and TERFs while confirming that the lies they spread are true.
Seriously not edgy, it burns into the souls of trans exclusionary feminists, the same people who have hijacked pride parades all over Europe.
Adam, a cisgender boy pretends to be a transman in order to trick a lesbian cisgender woman into sex which results in her sexual conversion (after multiple sexual encounters).
Reality check. Trans men do not have fully functioning penises.
So two of the most toxic often anti trans tropes broadcast by the 'GetTheLout' crew was brought to the big screen.
Add to that going to a Lesbian sex party disguised as a transman just to get his jollies and infiltrating Camp trans at the Michigan womyn's music festival, seen as the very last bastion of femininity by TERFs, you have to wonder why it was made in the first place.
Seriously not edgy, it burns into the souls of trans exclusionary feminists, the same people who have hijacked pride parades all over Europe.
Adam, a cisgender boy pretends to be a transman in order to trick a lesbian cisgender woman into sex which results in her sexual conversion (after multiple sexual encounters).
Reality check. Trans men do not have fully functioning penises.
So two of the most toxic often anti trans tropes broadcast by the 'GetTheLout' crew was brought to the big screen.
Add to that going to a Lesbian sex party disguised as a transman just to get his jollies and infiltrating Camp trans at the Michigan womyn's music festival, seen as the very last bastion of femininity by TERFs, you have to wonder why it was made in the first place.
Offensive and wrong
gshep-6015516 February 2020
As someone who read the book,
thecw086 March 2020
I was already EXTREMELY disgusted at how they portrayed the love interest, as well as the main character. Both were despicable and were just horrible people. The depiction of lesbians was very insulting. Can't believe they made this trash book into a trash movie. Trust me, don't waste your time. It's an outrage.
Try it!!
G_top2 August 2020
This film is far from perfect, but in many ways, it surpasses 99% of what is produced commercially. Its bravery lies in its refusal to pander to a certain audience; instead, it attempts to forge an honest connection between disparate groups. While I personally believe it falls short, it does so in a spectacular manner amidst the current "turf" wars. Its low rating on IMDB is not necessarily indicative of its quality. Watch it, appreciate it, and draw your own conclusions.
Honestly, boring
halfblooddor21 February 2020
Once you get past the inaccuracies of the dynamic between lesbians and transgender men, it's clear that this movie is just straight up boring. The protagonist is boring, the plot is boring, and the way the movie is shot is boring. Just not worth watching, in my opinion.
It's just a coming of age film
robert-8592315 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Some of the reviews on here are just way over the top angry mob stuff. Watch it for yourself it's not that bad. I'm gay and I didn't find it particularly offensive. Not everyone has the perfect vocabulary to describe the LGBTIQ+ experience and it keeps changing anyway. The important thing is to treat people with love and respect whatever their experience - sadly not always present in the LGBTIQ+ community :-(
It's awkward and geeky and a bit preposterous in places but it's very standard coming of age stuff.
The comedy of errors stuff is a bit trying.
It's awkward and geeky and a bit preposterous in places but it's very standard coming of age stuff.
The comedy of errors stuff is a bit trying.
Let's call it what it is...!
jordanjanssen13 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Being totally blunt here, Adam RAPED Gillian!
There's no other way to put it. Without fully informed consent, Adam had penetrative sex with Gillian using a strap on sex toy. It matters not that she LATER realised that Adam wasn't a trans male and still went with it.
This simple fact is glossed over in the film, and I am angry that it wasn't addressed. Even when Adam has a heart to heart with Ethan, Ethan fails to point out that Adam raped Gillian. That is NOT ACCEPTABLE!
As for the rest of the film, it was weak, flabby, and soured by the above fact. When a moving poem about being trans was read by a character, I should have been held, transfixed and crying. Instead, I was treated to numerous shots of Adam looking shifty and it made me feel angry that this important moment was spoiled.
Ultimately, I felt that this film effectively supported the abhorrent idea of "corrective rape". The poor gay girl just needed the right man to have sex with her, and maybe she could realise the error of her ways and adjust to living a 'productive' heteronormative life with a husband, 2.4 kids, and half a Labrador.
You will gain ZERO understanding of the lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. And even less understanding of trans people, male or female.
I haven't read the book, and based on the film (screenwritten by the author), I see no need to. I know it will be bad.
I don't recommend this film to anyone. I wish I had read the reviews beforehand, and I would have saved myself 90 minutes of frustration and anger.
For the record, I'm a gay cisgender man.
Jordan
There's no other way to put it. Without fully informed consent, Adam had penetrative sex with Gillian using a strap on sex toy. It matters not that she LATER realised that Adam wasn't a trans male and still went with it.
This simple fact is glossed over in the film, and I am angry that it wasn't addressed. Even when Adam has a heart to heart with Ethan, Ethan fails to point out that Adam raped Gillian. That is NOT ACCEPTABLE!
As for the rest of the film, it was weak, flabby, and soured by the above fact. When a moving poem about being trans was read by a character, I should have been held, transfixed and crying. Instead, I was treated to numerous shots of Adam looking shifty and it made me feel angry that this important moment was spoiled.
Ultimately, I felt that this film effectively supported the abhorrent idea of "corrective rape". The poor gay girl just needed the right man to have sex with her, and maybe she could realise the error of her ways and adjust to living a 'productive' heteronormative life with a husband, 2.4 kids, and half a Labrador.
You will gain ZERO understanding of the lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. And even less understanding of trans people, male or female.
I haven't read the book, and based on the film (screenwritten by the author), I see no need to. I know it will be bad.
I don't recommend this film to anyone. I wish I had read the reviews beforehand, and I would have saved myself 90 minutes of frustration and anger.
For the record, I'm a gay cisgender man.
Jordan
Maybe I'm missing something?
pjryan-4981219 September 2021
As a gay male I don't see why so many are offended...I feel like because Adam did a very bad thing by tricking his gf who's a self proclaimed lesbian doesn't make the entire film transphobic....the love interest doesn't become "cured" as so many have stated on here -she FALLS IN LOVE with (cis male) Adam so obviously she wasn't a lesbian to begin with but rather is a budding Pansexual and didn't realize it...the whole film is pretty straightforward and don't agree with the 1 stars or the offended people at all. Also being an actor I highly doubt the trans actors were unaware of what they were casted in lol if they read the script they'd know and would've dropped out.
Do NOT support this
kayceedallas16 February 2020
This movie is absolutely queerphobic and misguided and is going to hurt and/or confuse a lot of young people who think that this is okay. This movie is disgusting and completely wrong on so many levels. The fact that it even exists makes me sick to my stomach.
Don't watch it
aninhamxavier21 February 2020
Ok
akuamoahbernardboateng26 December 2019
Ignore the backlash - worth seeing
douggordy9 June 2021
I am not sure why there's such a virulent backlash against this film, especially as most of the negative reviews here are from people who have obviously not even see the film, but are jumping on some bandwagon. It's written by a lesbian, directed by a trans man and ALL the trans characters are played by trans actors (including MJ Rodriquez of POSE fame and first-timer Leo Sheng, who is a real find). The trans characters are treated with respect and sensitivity - no, they are not flawless, but that would make for a very dull film. As a cis gendered gay man, I came away with much more understanding and appreciation of the struggles in the trans community. It's not a perfect film, but I think it's heart is in the right place - and I enjoyed it.
What a beautiful film
jenniolson24 July 2019
This is a complex, original, sophisticated and beautifully made film by a transman director and a cis lesbian writer that has so much to contribute to dialogue in the queer community in this particular moment when we all need to be having nuanced conversations rather than reactionary shut-downs. While the plot sounds problematic on its surface - a straight cis male teen ends up having a relationship with a lesbian who believes he is a transman - the film is very clearly offering up commentary on all kinds of issues and themes within the queer community and it is neither transphobic nor lesbophobic. It is really so unfortunate to see such a vicious campaign being waged against it by people who have not actually seen the film.
Smart Funny Film
phpierce-125 July 2019
Sympathetic portrayal of a teenager trying to figure out a confusing world with new rules of sexual identities. Smart and engaging film with fine performances, having fun with stereotypes both liberal and conservative.
Don't understand the blind hate
MarisoleP3 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This film was thoroughly enjoyable. It's weirdly getting dragged for having a main character who royally messes up and admits royally messing up, but everyone these days seems to have this idea that everything on screen or in print is condoned. I've even seen news media get dragged for reporting tragic news as if reporting it meant agreeing with it happening.
As far as this film goes this mentality is particularly unfortunate since you have a trans director and trans cast (many of the latter denied other's claims that they were misgendered or disrespected on set) bringing a story potentially to a wider audience who could learn something not so much from the main character but from all the characters.
As far as this film goes this mentality is particularly unfortunate since you have a trans director and trans cast (many of the latter denied other's claims that they were misgendered or disrespected on set) bringing a story potentially to a wider audience who could learn something not so much from the main character but from all the characters.
Funny movie
lisalovelacebx20 May 2020
Funny movie that does not take itself seriously. Ignore the 1 star reviews, this movie is not factual and is not documentary about the LGBTQ community. This movie is a comedy, so expect it to not take itself seriously.
Clever, witty, darkly funny and very, very human
toni-michelle4 February 2020
This is a mind opening, 'on topic' film which will exercise your empathy in interesting ways and have you asking questions you thought you never would. Or, if you are conservative, right wing or christian it may scare the pants off you! I thoroughly enjoyed this film, clever, witty, darkly funny and very, very human. Make your own mind!
A Coming of Age Film for a New Generation
Bonneville3723 July 2019
An edgy but humane coming of age film for a new generation, this film turns on its head notions of mistaken identity. Performances by the young ensemble cast are sensitive and nuanced, and we'll see more of these actors in the future. First time feature film director Rhys Ernst threads the needle, making this LGBTQ film understandable to a broad audience open to seeing it as a story in which young people learn lessons on a journey to find their authentic selves.
Amazing film
djguzz24 October 2019
A Gender-identity story with role reversal
chong_an5 June 2019
In a summer before marriage equality, high schooler Adam gets permission to stay with his big sister, a college student in New York City. Unknown to their parents, she is a lesbian, and her social circle consists of activists in the lesbian and trans communities. Hanging around that group, Adam is mistaken for being a trans man. When he starts dating a women he met at a party, he does come clean about his age, but has to frantically study to keep up his masquerade as a trans man.
There is emphasis within the community that what matters is gender identity in the head, and not what is physically present "down below". There is a poignant scene at the Trans Camp swimming hole, where body-affirming participants go skinny-dipping, while Adam sits alone on shore, fully clothed. Adam is, effectively, fish out of water, as he lives a lie in order to pass as trans and have a relationship.
I saw this at the Inside Out LGBT film festival, with director Q+A. The screenplay was adapted from a novel by the original author, who then hired a trans director to direct it. Their toughest casting problem was for the title role. Because it had a sex scene, they could not cast an actual 17-year-old, but had to find someone who looked the part of one, who hadn't overdosed on "T".
This film is recommended for those who are not too disturbed by a cast full of trans and lesbian characters, while interested in knowing more about it.
There is emphasis within the community that what matters is gender identity in the head, and not what is physically present "down below". There is a poignant scene at the Trans Camp swimming hole, where body-affirming participants go skinny-dipping, while Adam sits alone on shore, fully clothed. Adam is, effectively, fish out of water, as he lives a lie in order to pass as trans and have a relationship.
I saw this at the Inside Out LGBT film festival, with director Q+A. The screenplay was adapted from a novel by the original author, who then hired a trans director to direct it. Their toughest casting problem was for the title role. Because it had a sex scene, they could not cast an actual 17-year-old, but had to find someone who looked the part of one, who hadn't overdosed on "T".
This film is recommended for those who are not too disturbed by a cast full of trans and lesbian characters, while interested in knowing more about it.
See also
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