Sam fails to capitalise on Penn's talents

I Am Sam tells the story of a single father Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), who raises a child after the homeless girl he made pregnant left right after delivery. And if that is not hard work enough, Sam has the intellect of a mere seven year-old.

Together with a bunch of odd pals, and his introverted pianist neighbour Annie (Diane Weist in a token, overacted role), they manage to raise Lucy (an amazingly natural seven-year-old Dakota Fanning) until Sam’s parenting ability comes into suspect by the Department of Children and Family Services’ Margaret Calgrove (Loretta Devine).