A young twenty-something deals with getting cancer.

Rating: 9/10 (26 January 2012)

As someone who had a minor bout with cancer myself, I can identify with some of the story presented here and was really surprised how well this film, about a twenty-something man who finds himself with a rare and potentially fatal type of cancer, presented much of it. My case was nowhere near as severe as Gordon-Levitt's Adam but, I can say the film really nailed the inner turmoil, the mixed thoughts and emotions, the unexpected humor that seems to come out of nowhere and the strange way people approach and talk to you when they find out. Not only is the script insightful but, really balances the heavy drama with the lighter and more touching moments perfectly. The film is never overly melodramatic or sappy, nor is it condescending with it's humor and it also never manipulates the audience but, let's the audience experience the emotions from the story itself. Obviously Director Jonathan Levine had a big part in making this sensitive story work so well but, he is also helped by getting really great performances out of a really great cast. Levitt is near perfect as a man suddenly faced with his mortality at a point in his life where he still has so much he wants to accomplish. Seth Rogen perfectly portrays that one friend who is always there to brighten spirits by adding just the right levity at just the right moments. The friend who loves you enough to make you feel stupid for feeling sorry for yourself and to take it when your inner anger makes you short tempered. Rounding out the cast is legendary Anjelica Huston as his mother, Bryce Dallas Howard as his undeserving girlfriend and Anna Kendrick as his therapist/ love interest. This is one of the best dramas I have seen in a long while and it adds enough humor to keep one from being overwhelmed and to remind us that, like life, there is almost always something to make us smile in even the worst situations. Bravo.