A Powerful Drama with a Light Comedic Edge

Rating: 8/10 (6 March 2012)

When you're trying to advertise a heartfelt drama/comedy about one guy's struggle with his cancer diagnosis, perhaps it's not best to lead with the line "from the guys who brought you SUPERBAD". Not because I was fooled. No, I read reviews and follow news on movies that pique my interest. But the general movie-going public who relies solely on advertising when making decisions on what movies to check out, they might've felt a little gypped. I thought this movie was misrepresented in the trailers and TV spots, and I wonder if it led to the mediocre box office results. I didn't really see a lot of ads for it and the ones that I did see try to spin it as a "laugh-out-loud" comedy. Not quite. The movie is based on screenwriter Will Reiser's personal experiences when he was diagnoses and subsequently beat cancer in his mid-20s. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Adam Lerner, an employee for Seattle Public Radio and the ultimate personification of risk avoidance. He has no bad habits and won't even cross the street unless he's given the OK from a pedestrian signjust in case. Which is why it comes as such a surprise to him when he's diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his spine. The odds aren't good, with most people finding a 50% chance of survival in the best cases. Now he begins the process of coping with his illness and his 50/50 odds with the help of his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), his artist girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), his over-bearing mother (Anjelica Huston), and his new therapist (Anna Kendrick).
Yes, 50/50 is just as much a comedy as it is a drama, but it's not fair to label it as being in the same vein as the previous Rogen/Goldberg movies (SUPERBAD, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS). The association is a loose one and the comedy isn't on the same level. 50/50 doesn't really rely on vulgar language, shock humor, or absurd situations for its laughs. It's a much more natural humor that arises from the strained situations between it's characters. The drama is actually much more prominent here and there are some real heavy scenes in the movie that'll put a lump in the throat of the hardest person. The entire third act of the movie, the vibe shifts to a more serious tone and features some of the most heart-wrenching bits in the entire film. People might not have been expecting such a serious approach to the film because of how it was marketed. You're not going to find yourself laughing yourself to tears at zany situations but you might just find yourself tearing up when Adam is preparing for a potentially dangerous surgery. Not so say that the movie isn't funny, because it has some great moments. The humor is really blatant, but it's enough to earn some chuckles from the viewer. It's a tamer humor that falls more in line with movies like OUR IDIOT BROTHER as opposed to the usual Apatow-style comedy.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has somehow managed to skyrocket into the spotlight with awesome roles in a long line of recent major films (I officially forgive him for his Cobra Commander), does an amazing job in this movie. I'm almost surprised that he didn't receive more critical attention for 50/50. He rides a perfect balance of strength and despair in the face of his own mortality. Seth Rogen is the primary reason this movie must've earned it's R-rating. He provides his trademark brand of explicit humor and ranting. Funny, yes, but it didn't really feel like it fit in with the rest of the movie. It's hard to see two characters as different as Adam and Kyle as actual friends, but Rogen has enough as a "good buddy" vibe that we buy him in his role. We believe him as a lovable loser who means well because that's what he's usually casted as. Anna Kendrick is adorable as a rookie therapist who's assigned to help Adam deal with his emotional struggle and still hasn't quite found her groove. Being that Adam is only her third patient, she's still trying things out and it's funny to watch her settle into her position. Not to mention, she has an excellent chemistry with Gordon-Levitt and you find yourself hoping the two get their happy ending. But this movie isn't about their relationship, it's about Adam's battle with cancer and how he, and everyone close to his life, comes to terms with it. It's a light-hearted comedy about a tender subject, but handles it in such a way that you feel the weight of the matter.