50/50 Review

Rated R (Language Throughout, Sexual Content and some Drug Use)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 39 Minutes

Cast:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt-Adam Lerner

Seth Rogen-Kyle

Anna Kendrick-Dr. Katherine ‘Katie’ McKay

Bryce Dallas Howard-Rachael

Anjelica Huston-Diane Lerner

Serge Houde-Richard Lerner

Philip Baker Hall-Alan

Matt Frewer-Mitch

Directed by Jonathan Levine

He's doing it! He's really shaving it all!

People in their twenties,or young people in general, often get caught up in that mindset where they feel they’re invincible. I know this because I’m still in my twenties and my grandmother often berates me about the cavalier attitude I have towards my health. This does not mean I'm not concerned but I'm of the belief that even if I do get sick, I will bounce back, better than ever. Now imagine this scenario: what if you were diagnosed with a rare, malignant form of cancer and you're only just twenty-seven? This is the premise of "50/50," a comedy/drama directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Will Reiser, loosely based upon his experiences living with cancer when he was diagnosed with a spinal tumor at the age of twenty-four and how his best friend, Seth Rogen, helped him on the long road to recovery. Reiser is currently in his sixth year of remission and has cheerfully remarked that it 'apparently lasts forever…or until you die.' A comedy about a man dealing with cancer is a tricky film to do but Levine and Reiser pull it off with ease, providing a heavy dose of laughs but never losing sight that every day we are faced with our own mortality. Reiser's experiences lend a sense of realism to "50/50" as the drama is heartfelt without feeling forced or maudlin. This is, without a doubt, one of the best films of 2011. 

Twenty-seven year old Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lives life on the safe side: he waits for the walk sign to appear while doing his morning jogs even if there are no cars in sight and refuses to learn how to drive, as it is the 'nation's fifth leading cause of death.' Suffering from intermittent back pains, Adam visits the doctor for a check-up and discovers to his shock that he has a rare form of spinal cancer. The doctor, who appears to be unsympathetic, informs Adam that if he wants, he can speak to a psychiatrist at the hospital. At home, Adam tells his girlfriend, Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), and says that she has an opportunity to leave with no hard feelings if she feels she cannot handle the stress. Although clearly uncomfortable, Rachel refuses and tells him that they'll get through it. His best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) is upset at this unpleasant news but upon learning that Adam's chances of survival are 50%, he immediately cheers up, remarking that those are great odds and that he'll be fine. With great reluctance, Adam reveals his condition to his mother, Diane (Anjelica Huston), who wants to move in so she can take care of him but he stops her since she already has to take care of his father, Richard (Serge Houde), who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. During his chemotherapy treatments, Adam befriends two older cancer patients, Alan (Philip Baker Hall) and Mitch (Matt Frewer), who share some macaroons filled with marijuana. He also begins to see a young psychiatrist working toward her doctorate named Katherine 'Katie' McKay (Anna Kendrick) and an awkward romance forms between them. Despite the efforts of his best friend to uplift his spirits, Adam soon begins to slip into a depression as he comes to terms with the fact that he will die. 

People always say laughter is the best medicine. After all, if you were faced with your own imminent mortality, wouldn't you want to spend your final days among the people you love rather than being trapped in a depression? For the most part, the script of "50/50" hits the expected beats as Adam goes through Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' five stages of grief (sometimes all at the same time) but the film skillfully avoids turning into an exploitative, melodramatic tear-jerker along the lines of 2009's "My Sister's Keeper" by providing humor in such a way that it does not trivialize what he is going through. Although certain elements recall 2008's "Pineapple Express," there are still several laugh-out-loud hilarious scenes, including the much advertised head-shaving and using cancer as a pick-up line in order to get laid but much of the comedy is often morbid, especially when Adam gets high on marijuana during a chemotherapy session with two patients and leaves the hospital laughing at everything. As Will Reiser partially based the script on his own experiences, the pain that Adam goes through has a palpable realism where the drama never feels artificial in order to induce a reaction from the audience. When he finally breaks down and screams in anguish knowing he may die the next day, I felt tears well up in my eyes and even the most jaded viewer will find it hard not to be affected in such a way. The emotional core of "50/50" lies in Adam and Katie's burgeoning romance and it's the kind I always love to watch: sweet, innocent, and awkward but most importantly, believable. As an inexperienced psychiatrist, Katie has a tendency to put her hand on Adam's shoulder to comfort him but he remarks that it feels 'creepy.' By the film's end, you're just yearning for Adam to survive his ordeal just so we can see him finally happy and be with someone who appreciates him. Balancing comedy and drama is a tightrope act but Levine and Reiser succeed beyond a reasonable doubt, crafting a film that will make you cry just as much as it'll make you laugh. 

The success of "50/50" can be contributed to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who appears to be unable to do no wrong as he continues to effortlessly grasp all the nuances that his numerous roles ask of him. His performance is so good it's as if he lived the life of a cancer patient because the emotion on display has a raw, genuine quality to them. While I have no doubt that he will be nominated for an Academy Award, it remains to be seen whether he'll win as the competition is fierce, especially from Ryan Gosling. It's amazing to see how far Levitt has come since "3rd Rock from the Sun." Seth Rogen is basically playing an exaggerated version of himself but he shows a rare depth that's largely unseen in his previous work. Anna Kendrick, who has one of the most adorable smiles, continues to prove that the "Twilight" films are beneath her as a sympathetic yet also sweet and awkward psychiatrist. In fact, it's that awkward quality that lends "50/50" its heart and soul. Bryce Dallas Howard once again plays someone unlikable as her character decides to cope with the stress by having an affair. It's a role that plays to her strengths, although I'd wish she step outside her comfort zone. Anjelica Huston, Philip Baker Hall, and Matt Frewer have minor supporting roles but they make the most of it by stealing every scene they're in. 

Riding a wave of positive buzz, "50/50" was released on September 30, 2011 to critical acclaim and has earned a stunning 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, running neck and neck with Gosling's "Drive." Critics hailed that the film 'maneuvers between jokes and drama with surprising finesse.' Unfortunately, interest for the film appears to be middling judging from the sparsely populated theater (granted, it was a morning screening) and its low debut of $2.9 million points to a weekend total of approximately $8 million, the same as its production budget so positive word-of-mouth should make it a minor success. Another reason that audiences might not be going in droves is its rather depressing subject matter and I have read some comments from those who find it in poor taste in mixing cancer with comedy. However, their opinion was based on the official trailer alone but they're unlikely to change their minds to see the film, which is disappointing given its quality. Funny without being obnoxious, emotionally affecting without being manipulative, "50/50" does everything right and if it isn't obvious already, this is easily one of my favorite films of 2011 so stop dilly-dallying and run to the theater!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"You can't change your situation. The only thing that you can change is how you choose to deal with it."