It actually works - a comedy about illness

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2012)

This was funny touching balanced realistic and entertaining movie about a young man who gets cancer.
The screenplay is well written. There are laugh out loud moments which I won't give away. It's touching just when it needs to be, never depressing which is a relief. There have been some recent movies of people with cancer that haven't been good eg "A Little Bit of Heaven". It's a fresh approach and isn't clichéd or deja vu at all. Good dialog throughout and lots of realistic details.
The characters are balanced and real. They are quite endearing and none are irritating. Bryce Dallas Howard acts well. She plays the tricky role of the girlfriend with the right touch. Seth Rogen is funny and not annoying as the best friend. Angelica Huston is surprisingly soft and good as the mother. Anna Kendrick is suitably awkward as the novice therapist. Joseph Gordon Levitt gives a very well rounded performance as the cancer victim not overacting but very convincing.
Given the subject matter which could have been terribly sad this movie thoroughly succeeds as a feel good touching comedy about cancer. Quite amazing.