A sad example of what comedy and film making is becoming

Rating: 7/10 (21 February 2012)

I did not hate this movie. Parts of it were absolutely excellent. However the crude and literally movie spoiling existence of Seth Rogen takes a touching and potentially heart wrenching movie into complete and utter crud. I read other reviews or hear what people have to say about this movie and I'm very confused. I hear that people bawled, and cried and found it moving and touching and there are a few moments that might make you feel that way but it is completely overshadowed by the filth they put into the movie. The language is appalling. I'm not a prude, and I can handle just about anything in a movie but when you get a movie like this...a potentially moving story about a young man diagnosed with cancer and how he deals with it, falls out of love, in love, and living with his friends and family. That should have been enough but apparently the film makers thought they should take a PG movie and turn it into an R rated Seth Rogen comedy blitz because it would sell better.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a truly outstanding, brilliant performance as Adam, the twenty-something diagnosed with cancer. He gives an award worthy performance and again I have to say that what should have been an Oscar worthy performance is ruined by Rogen. The ironic thing is that Rogen, in real life, went through this with 50/50 creator Will Reiser. I guess you know what you're gonna get with Rogen but his character is annoying, stupid, unfunny, and of course absolutely disgusting and crude. He ruined this movie period. Anna Kendrick is good as the awkward and quiet new doctor trying to help Adam deal with his emotions. She has good chemistry with Gordon-Levitt and is charming. Bryce Dallas Howard is deliciously awful as Adam's girlfriend. She is just really a bad human being and you will love to hate her. This might be Howard's best role ever. I've never been a big fan but she plays bad really good. Anjelica Huston gives a solid performance as Adam's mother but they under-use her. I would have like to have seen more from her and more between her and Gordon-Levitt.
I think its downright hilarious that Rogen himself, a producer on the film, thinks that 50/50 makes people uncomfortable because its a comedy about cancer. I constantly hear how they tackled cancer in a way no one has ever done before and guess what...that's a load of crap. I have yet to see a movie about cancer that tip toes around it. 50/50 is not breaking any new ground here no matter what the majority of the film makers and some reviewers will tell you. Yes it has moments of being a sweet story and some really powerful moments. A scene with Gordon-Levitt where he locks himself in the car and basically melts down is really particularly powerful. But then when you're being barraged by sex and bad language through the rest of it, it wears thin and ruins what could have been a truly powerful movie. See for yourself and find out what side of the fence you fall on...artistic film making brilliance or potential for powerful ruined by nasty humour. 7/10