The Adam Project Parent Guide

Twelve can be a difficult age and it is proving particularly challenging for Adam Reed (Walker Scobell). Bullied at school and still grieving the unexpected death of his father, Louis Reed (Mark Ruffalo), eighteen months ago, Adam is just waiting for a future where he doesn’t have to worry about any of this…and that’s coming much sooner than he thinks. One night, as his mother, Ellie (Jennifer Garner) is on a date, he finds a strange man in his dad’s garage – a strange man with all his memories, a familiarity with his dog, and an identical scar under his chin. The man, as it happens, is his older self (Ryan Reynolds) from roughly 30 years into the future.

The future is in trouble, so Adam has come back to his past to find his wife, Laura (Zoe Saldana), who disappeared in a deeply suspicious time travel incident. The last thing he wants is a 12-year-old tag along, let alone this particular 12-year-old, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. The time machine is keyed to his DNA and won’t let him access it due to injuries he sustained in his escape from the future. He’s going to have to learn how to get along with his younger self if he wants to get anything done.

If you’ve seen Free Guy, you have a good idea of what to expect here. While the plot is completely different, the tone and content are quite similar. Parents have little to worry about apart from some mild cursing and stylized sci-fi violence, and families will likely enjoy Reynolds’ signature banter, now echoed by Walker Scobell as his younger self. I had some concerns about a younger actor mimicking Reynolds, but Scobell does a great job without going over the top. Or, at least, no more over the top than Reynolds is.

Parents will also appreciate the family-focused themes of the story. Adam and Adam both have good advice for themselves and each other, covering grief, love, and being kind to your mother. And it manages to cover all those topics without feeling preachy or slowing down the sci-fi action fun. The film also avoids getting lost in the weeds with time travel paradoxes or physics, giving you enough to suggest complexity without confusing younger viewers.

While too profane and violent for little kids, and maybe a bit too complex for older kids, this popcorn flick has lots to offer younger teens and their parents. Time travel, action, a great cast, and a reminder to be nicer to your mom – it’s a home run. I’m just glad it’s not my problem: If I had to deal with my twelve-year-old self, there would be precious little comedy involved…