MovieChat Forums > I Am Sam (2002) Discussion > One thing wrong with this movie! *spoile...

One thing wrong with this movie! *spoilers*


Ok, this movie is amazing and i love it.
But one thing that has just occured to me whilst being on this board that makes me kinda sit back and think hmmm..

Well in the movie Sam has the mental capacity of a 6-7 year old right? (im sorry i cant remember the exact age- havent seen it in a while)
Ok.. So, A man with the mental capacity of a child- i do not find it believable that he would know what sex is, let alone have it.

Other then that this movie is brilliant

You hate us 'cause we're beautiful, Well we don't like you either

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Kirk Lazarus: Everybody knows you never go full retard.
Tugg Speedman: What do you mean?
Kirk Lazarus: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, "Being There." Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, "I Am Sam." Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed...

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People with intellectual disabilities go through puberty just like everyone else and have urges and desires too. Fact is, someone with a mental age of 7 or 8 doesn't understand these feelings and so can get very frustrated by them - end up engaging in inappropriate behaviour like masturbating in public etc. It's another sad thing about intellectual disability, most of these people are physically fine and prone to the exact same urges as everyone else but with little understanding of it and less likelihood of engaging in sex.

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