50/50

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is 50/50.

Directed by Jonathan Levine.

Written by Will Reiser.

Review #142

MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use.

Runtime: 99 min

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt ...Adam

Seth Rogen ...Kyle

Anna Kendrick ...Katherine

Bryce Dallas Howard ...Rachael

Anjelica Huston ...Diane

Serge Houde ...Richard

Matt Frewer ...Mitch

Philip Baker Hall ...Alan

This review is dedicated to everyone I know and anyone that you know that has dealt or is currently dealing with cancer and the many forms the disease takes. God Bless each and every one of them. My thoughts and prayers are with them, all of you and your families. 

I miss you Peaches.

Cancer

It's one of the scariest words in the english language. It's also one of the scariest diseases we have ever encountered. What makes it so terrifying is that it's no longer considered an old people's disease. Anyone can get it. Cancer doesn't discriminate against age, race, sex or even health. You can be the healthiest person on the planet and you're not immune. I know this sounds very morbid but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. My point is that cancer is a ninja disease. It will strike at the moment where you least expect it and it will turn your life and the lives of the ones you love upside down.

Trust me. I'm speaking from experience. Personal experience. VERY personal experience.

Tinseltown has made several "Cancer" movies in the past and for the most part their sole objective was to make everyone in the theater cry. That tactic actually was quite successful depending on who you ask of course. Those films however in my opinion didn't do a great job of accurately depicting what the patient actually goes through.

50/50 comes the closest.

Plot


Adam is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend, his mother, and a young therapist at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are. 

This film might instantly draw comparisons to Judd Apatow's Funny People. 50/50 gets that comparison mostly because of two members of the Apatow tree. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. They are 2 of Apatow's creative partners who collaborated on several films together. Their film styles mirror each other to the point of plagiarism. The biggest difference between Funny People and 50/50 is simple.

50/50 is a great film.

It all starts with the fact that 50/50 is a true story. The film is based on Will Reiser's (the film's writer) real life battle with cancer. He and Rogen have been childhood friends and Rogen convinced Reiser to write a movie about his life, the disease and how he dealt with the treatment. The film also depicts Rogen's support of Reiser during his tumultuous time. This comes out masterfully by the performance of Joseph Gordon Leavitt as Adam. He's a good guy who didn't deserve to have this happen to him. You root for his recovery immediately. You just want him to get better right away and not deal with any pain whatsoever.

Of course we all know that doesn't happen

Adam goes through the pain wringer of both the physical and emotional variety and it's painful to watch. Starting with the relationship he has with his girlfriend. I don't know what it is about Bryce Dallas Howard but someone so talented and beautiful shouldn't be playing characters that are such heartless bitches. Next we have Adam's relationship with his mom. As expected his mom freaks out and does what any mother would which is drop everything and be at her son's side. Adam resists her insistence to be involved which causes very tense strain between the two of them.

Leavitt does a great job changing your emotions about him. You feel for him going through all the pain his treatment is causing him. Then you lose some of that sympathy when he rejects the support of people trying to help him. All of this comes to a head when Adam has to have surgery. The raw emotional power of that moment just washes over you and drops you to your knees. The scene with Adam and Kyle at the park then with Adam at the hospital before he goes under the knife will rip your heart out. If you don't shed a tear during those something's wrong.

My mom and I balled and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

This film touches every possible nerve and that's what gives it it's power. Though billed as a comedy, 50/50 is more of a dramedy. There are some quite funny moments but they are just there to give you a moment of pause as Adam struggles with the fight for his life. The relationships that develop are what makes 50/50 so satisfying at the end. The cast turns in strong performances. Particularly Anna Kendrick as the newbie therapist. Her growth in her profession manifests itself almost simultaneously as Adam's physical appearance declines. That dynamic creates a bond that serves them and the film very nicely.

50/50 is a film that does more than tell a story about a sick man. It reminds you to ALWAYS cherish the people you have in your life because in a snap they can be taken away from you. The movie also reminds you that sometimes life deals a shitty hand but you always have a choice. You can either beat the adversity or be beaten by it.

What will you do?

On the 5 star scale. 50/50 gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Real Steel.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"