“50/50” may sound like a rehash of old ideas: the cancer sob story, the “500 Days of Summer” indie quirkiness and the Seth Rogen pot jokes, but it really is so much more. “50/50” is one of those rare bittersweet comedies that will leave you laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time.
Based on the true story of screenwriter Will Reiser’s battle with cancer, “50/50” is about 27-year-old Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “(500) Days of Summer”), a guy who doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and does virtually everything right, being diagnosed with cancer.
After getting over the initial shock and the discomfort of having to deal with an anxious mother (Anjelica Huston, “The Royal Tenenbaums”) and a shrewish girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard, “The Help”), Adam’s friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen, “Pineapple Express”) tries to get him to look on the bright side of things.
They go about doing idiotic things as idiotic guys do, like trying to get laid by telling girls about Adam’s cancer or shaving off Adam’s hair with Kyle’s razor that he incidentally also uses for his balls. It’s endearing and makes “50/50” a refreshing new take on the cancer/terminal illness genre.
Adam also finds solace in his fellow cancer patients, Mitch and Allen, two old adorable men played by Matt Frewer (“Watchmen”) and Philip Baker Hall (“Bruce Almighty”). There’s a hilarious scene where they all get high together on weed macaroons, and Adam walks through the hospital in a drug-induced funk, making comical faces in reaction to the patients being wheeled through the corridors.
Adam’s fresh-out-of-school psychiatrist, Katherine (played by the lovely, high-energy Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”) also provides an outlet for Adam’s emotions. At first, he rejects her help, insisting that he could handle his emotions on his own, but he slowly opens up to her, and their relationship grows as his relationship with his flaky girlfriend disintegrates. Their chemistry is undeniable, and it almost becomes a certainty that somehow the two will end up together.
Gordon-Levitt is phenomenal as Adam, carrying the film’s humorous and poignant moments well. Those who mostly know him from dramatic roles like “Inception” or “(500) Days of Summer” probably don’t remember that he started off on a sitcom (“3rd Rock from the Sun”), and he flaunts his comedic roots well. He and Rogen played off each other well, making it seem like they’d known each other for years. Rogen surprisingly didn’t overstay his welcome in the film, opting for a more subtle approach, while keeping his trademark humor.
Poor Bryce Dallas Howard was again relegated to the role of the shrewish side character whom everyone is supposed to dislike and does her best with the character, although she isn’t given much to work with.
Kendrick basically played a less annoying version of her character from “Up in the Air.” At one point, each of these characters seem a little rehashed, with Rogen playing another typical stoner character, and Gordon-Levitt’s character seeming like a continuation of Tom from “(500) Days of Summer,” complete with the geeky-hip wardrobe and indie music fixation. However, these flaws can easily be overlooked by the great writing and acting.
While not a perfect movie, “50/50” is certainly a very good one that is enjoyable and touching at the same time. The perfect balance of adolescent humor with moments of real poignancy makes “50/50” a movie you won’t want to miss.
