50/50 is not the first and likely wont be the last dramedy that mixes moments of humor and sadness in a story of a a person battling a life threatening disease.
This was attempted in 2009's so-so film Funny People,and then there's the excellent
Showtime series The Big C.
Writer Will Reiser's own personal battle with cancer on which the film is loosely based
inspired 50/50 which is so truthful about the coldness and oblivious manner of some
doctors,the people that stand by a person suffering from the disease and those that are to selfish to do so.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is excellent as Adam who is completely thrown when he is diagnosed ,but tries his best to be optimistic.Seth Rogen is great as best friend and co-worker Kyle.Yes his use cancer to get laid plan is crass,but he is caring.
Adam's girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) may not be as dependable.
Then you have Adams doting mother Diane (Angelica Huston) Her feelings and love for him are proof that we will always be someone's child no matter how old we get.
Some of the best scenes in the film are between Levitt and Anna Kendrick as his young,and inexperienced psychologist Katherine.There is an uneasy attraction between the two but neither want to cross the doctor patient line but how it plays out is one of the joys of the film.
Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer are also good as fellow cancer patients.
The films last 25 minutes are some of the most honest and true moments you are likely to see on the big screen this year.These moments moved me partially because of my own family history with cancer,and the fact that it is so well acted by everyone,and if you dont get a lump in your throat during these minutes,you just dont have a heart.
I was going to wait for 50/50 to hit cable,because of my aforementioned history with the disease and the heavy subject matter which is indeed heavy at times,but im so glad i didnt stay away.
Scale of 1-10 a 9