Bryce Dallas Howard, left, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, star in “50/50.”
Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Courtesy Summit Entertainment/MCT
“50/50” portrays Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a 27-year-old who is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer and his odds of survival are, well, 50/50. The movie centers on his learning to cope with not only the disease but his relationships with his mother (Anjelica Huston), best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard) and his healing counselor Katie (Anna Kendrick). The film delivers sound performances and the ensemble of actors presents the movie carefully on a balance beam; neither too melodramatic nor too satirical.
Gordon-Levitt is the lucky man that portrays Adam. There is little to be said about the actor that has not already been said. For being so young and talented, he is truly one of the great actors of our time. In “50/50” Adam carries himself with an external poise, but you see the struggle in the actor’s eyes, as few can execute. He is calm more for himself than those around him who anguish awkwardly over the position that they are thrust into, be that any of those close to him.
The audience will recognize Rogen’s character, due to him being a similar character as that of “Pineapple Express,” or several others. If you enjoy Rogen in that role, it’s highly likely you will like him here. However, I’d like to see him explore different avenues. Rogen plays the drunken friend who tries to capitalize on Adam’s cancer for the simple goal of his own sexual pleasure. Despite his repetitious character choices, his comedy is well delivered and his heartfelt caring comes across. Howard is this summer’s favorite villainess; first in “The Help” and now as the amateur artist girlfriend of Adam. Despite whether she intended to care or not, it lasts for only a second, and we are happy with her outcome. Anna Kendrick plays Katherine, an eager post-grad healing counselor, which is altogether is too unprepared to help Adam constructively. Albeit, she does serve her own purpose in the movie we come to find. Huston’s role is the most heart wrenching as the neglected, overbearing, worrisome mother.
The film is directed by Jonathan Levine (“The Wackness”) and written by Will Reiser, who battled a form of the disease that Adam suffers from on screen. In reality he is quite good friends with Seth Rogen, who doubles as a producer for the movie as well. These men deliver a comedy with cancer as the main character. This movie reflects current trend on the subject of cancer, as featured in shows like “The Big C” on Showtime, or “Breaking Bad” on AMC. However, this movie is a dramedy, a hybrid of drama and comedy that in this case works surprisingly well.
50/50 did exceed my expectations, and pleasantly so. The actors have wonderful chemistry together. They present themselves awkwardly around each other without making the audience feel uncomfortable. You will be touched and some of the one liners hit hard and fast. For my money it was worth every penny.