The cancer dramedy

Rating: 9/10 (9 December 2012)

50/50 was considered one of the best films of 2012, a comedy-drama tackling the serious subject of cancer. It would have easy for the film to fall into melodrama, sentimentality and being very much like a TV movie, but 50/50 was blessed with an excellent screenplay and a top cast.
Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27-year-old radio journalist for Seattle Public Radio and man who is have problems with his girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard). When he experiences back problem Adam goes to the doctors and it turns out he has schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma, a rare type of spiral cancer. It turns out he has a 50% chance of surviving. As Adam undergoes chemotherapy it effects relationship with his guilt ridden girlfriend, his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) who sees the cancer as a great way to get with girls, his therapist, Katherine (Anna Kendrick), his friendships with two other cancer patients and overbearing mother (Anjelica Huston).
Will Reiser provided an excellent screenplay, a character driven story that is both dramatic and when it comic, genuinely very funny. There is funny dialogue and interactions between the characters and most of the cast has a moment to shine. But the comedy never distract from the drama and the characters. The characters were well written and reacted and acted believably, from characters using any old wives tale they believe to help Adam, people being sympathetic but unsure how to react when they hear the news, to Kendrick's character keeping referring to her university instead of her knowledge and experience.
There is a great cast in 50/50 and there all play well defied characters. Gordon-Levitt has emerged as a great talent and shows his range with 50/50: Adam starts of as a mild manner, rather meek person who becomes more daring, outgoing and confidence after his diagnosis. Katherine's character serves as a way to deconstruct the psychological symptoms he is suffering and because of her recent studies sounds a bit more natural for her to speak like that a seasoned veteran.
Whilst the main narrative is about Adam's cancer and the way it affects him and those close to him, but there are other parts of the story that should draw people in. There is the relationship between Adam and Rachael as Rachael feels compelled to be with Adam and his realisation that she is bad for him, the friendship Adam and Kyle, Adam's relationship with his mother in the third act and his blurring friendship with Katherine.
Director Jonathan Levine does inject an indie-film vide to the 50/50, using indie music and musical montages, some visual tricks, for example after Adam gets high and when Adam and Kyle destroy a painting. Levine kept a very fast pace throughout and whilst the film does lean towards the drama, 50/50 is not hammed fisted and the comedy elements worked nicely. With the musical cues 50/50 has a slightly similar feel to 500 Days of Summer and continuing both films have a theme of women who are bad for their partners they work well together as companions pieces to each other.
Considering the subject matter, 50/50 is an entertaining film and I can picture myself watching it again.