Another Bromantic Classic

Rating: 6/10 (4 October 2011)

In terms of subject matter Director Jonathan Levine's 50/50 is similar to Funny People, minus the 45 minutes they take out to Monterey to see about Adam Sandler's married ex-girlfriend. Subtract that 45 minutes from Funny People and we would've had the pinnacle of comedic drama in what we know today as a bromantic comedy.
Besides Click, Funny People allowed Sandler to provoke an eye socket warming cathartic reaction. Now subtract Sandler's sense of humor from that movie along with the 45 minutes he takes aside from the most dramatic feature of the film, which altogether ruined Funny People's chances and you have Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Seth Rogen alongside as a 50/50 chance of landing somewhere closer to this type of comedic drama's intended goal.
By now since Inception, and 500 Days Of Summer, everyone likes Levitt enough to not only pay closer attention to such a complex illness, but to also empathize with his metamorphosis from a no license having health nut, to a balding thin medicinal marijuana smoking, cancer patient.
Rogen lends himself to this feature as merely a helping hand with just enough comedic quips and antidotes to help Levitt through this illness without letting the audience forget exactly what they are dealing with. The occupations of these characters take a sideline to this disease. Levitt's reaction to this illness is certainly something real enough to set things off with. Cinematically the trip his mind takes over the edibles and the chemotherapy is definitely something new introduced to this genre of bromantic comedies as it is also something enough to keep every one's attention.
Funny thing about these comedies that intertwine themselves with drama is how much it constitutes and dignifies what is basically a romantic comedy for bros. Other films of this genre are Along Came Polly, 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People, etc. It must have been this type of feature that inspired movies like I Love You Man, movies like this years' 50/50. By leaving out the potty humor 50/50 is the closest this genre of bromantic comedy has gotten to what it has always lacked in subtlety. Something about this attempt at such a style is what makes me wonder where this type of comedy is headed.
As far as 50/50's release in theaters, I say see it, if you've already seen everything else that American cinema has to offer, from Drive, Moneyball, and Warrior. Otherwise it makes for a great date.