Once again, this movie is reviewed before the actual US release date because I was fortunate enough to score some screening passes for this movie. I actually viewed 50/50 on August 2nd at AMC Fashion Valley but didn’t get around to writing my review for it.
This dramedy was directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Will Reiser, who loosely based this story on his life. It stars Joseph Gordon Levitt (Inception, 500 days of Summer) as Adam, a 27 year old who gets the unexpected news that he has cancer. His circle of support includes his girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard, Eclipse and Spider-Man 3), best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen, The Green Hornet and Knocked Up), his mother (Anjelica Huston, The Addams Family and The Royal Tenebaums), and therapist (Anna Kendrick, Twilight and Up in the Air). The movie is shot throughout Seattle, WA’s beautiful rainy forest backdrop.
The story follows Adam as an otherwise healthy 20-something living with his girlfriend who works in radio editing. When a recurring back problem causes him to go see a doctor, his life gets turned upside down when he gets the news that he has a spinal cancer with a 50% chance of survival. One by one he shares the news with his girlfriend, best friend, and mother who is also dealing with her husband’s Alzheimer’s. Rachael reluctantly agrees to be his main caregiver but forgets to pick him up from the hospital and chooses to stay in the car during doctor appointments. Kyle takes on the sympathetic yet advantage-taking friend, using his cancer as a way to pick up girls. His mother is concerned and worrisome but definitely already has her hands full with Adam’s father. The hospital provides a novice therapist, Dr. McKay, whose intentions are good but her credentials precede her experience with patients.
After a series of unsympathetic scenes with girlfriend Rachael, Adam breaks up with her. Now primarily going through the chemo process alone, he reaches out to therapist Dr. McKay. The climactic ascent to his spinal surgery is filled with emotional moments that anyone who has known someone living with cancer can relate to. It also has its funny moments where you feel somewhat guilty for laughing during a movie about cancer but the writers do it just the right way where they let you know its ok.
Overall, I loved the movie. It made me tear up and laugh within minutes of each other. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays the best guy next door who you always want to root for. Seth Rogen, as always, portrays that “slacker” best friend who despite outer appearance and actions, is looking out for his buddy. Anna Kendrick is magnificent as newbie therapist Dr. McKay. Her subtle gestures and one-liners add so much to every scene she’s in.
A definite must-see!!!
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