Whether moviegoers prefer action movies to emotion or comedy over horror, everyone can glean some new insight and have their hearts touched by “I Am Sam,” the story of a mentally retarded father and his daughter.

Jessie Nelson, the writer, had each character functioning on many different levels. Sean Penn’s character, Sam, functioned as a retarded man, father, Starbucks employee and legal client.

Nelson went so far as to spend time showing the meticulous habits and thinking process of Sam’s mind by having him focus on organizing and facing the designs of the Starbucks coffee mugs.

Michelle Pfeiffer’s character was lawyer, mother, woman and wife. The daughter, Lucy, played by Dakota Fanning, is a kid who holds herself back so her success will not hurt her dad. With so many elements interacting it was easy to become a part of the movie. It seemed so true to life, so complex, yet real.

Overall, the movie is excellent. There are a couple of slow parts while the characters are being developed, but the scenes where the real drama is happening are heart-wrenching and cathartic.

Another movie that seemed to evoke some similar emotions is “Pay It Forward.” Such films take you from seeing injustice, hurt and trials, feeling like part of the process and having resolution and a good win in the end.

Everyone will walk away from “I Am Sam” changed somehow, either understanding themselves more completely, or understanding others.