A tale of two halves

Rating: 7/10 (23 March 2014)

Cue voice-over guy: "In a world of ordinariness... Joseph Gorden-Levitt plays Adam: an ordinary guy with an ordinary job with an ordinary girl-friend and an ordinary life. All of this ordinariness collapses when he is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer and hilarity ensues.... That's the unpromising setup for Jonathon Levines 2011 film. Cancer is funny. Hmmm, not promising. Even less promising is the presence of Seth Rogan. Easily the most punch-able face in film. An actor with the range of a table and the charismatic appeal of genital warts. Even less promising.
So, what do we have here? Well, we have a slightly odd mix. Firstly, there's the boysy humour summed up by Adam's profoundly irritating best-mate (played by Rogan) who sees cancer as a terrific opportunity for a sympathy f**k... with hilarious consequences. Sigh. It doesn't work. Not because it's in poor taste. But because it isn't funny. In fact the film is at it's best when it's not trying to be funny. It portrays the social awkwardness of how people's reactions and responses change to a person diagnosed with the big C in all its awkwardness excellently and with great pathos.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, as the director is using his own experience with the disease this is the heart of the film. Family, friends, partner and colleagues just don't know how to respond to or interact with Adam after his diagnosis and what follows is at times a touching portrayal of facing the mortality of yourself and others. In particular Adam's fractious relationship with Angelica Huston's fussy and over-protective mum will be ring bells with many grown men. The film almost derails itself with lazy depictions of the younger women who are a collection of caricatures: bitch girlfriend? Check. One-night-stand glamour bird? Check. Ditzy yet lovable medic? Check.
Ultimately, if you go in expecting big-laughs you'll be disappointed but there are some nuanced and poignant moments which resonate an air of truth which salvages this film into something of a success despite its obvious flaws.