When any director takes on a comedy about a serious topic, such as cancer, they have to walk a fine line between jokes and the realities of the topic. One small slip up and you risk offending and alienating a wide audience. Can director Jonathan Levine walk this line or does he fall flat on his face?
"50/50" is loosely based on the life of Will Reiser, the writer of the movie. It tells the story of Adam who discovers he has a rare and unpronounceable form of deadly spine cancer, and is forced to face his own mortality with the help of an eccentric group of friends, family and love interests.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives the film a firm platform to stand on with his portrayal of Adam. In the beginning, Adam seems to remain emotionally distant from his sickness, but as the story progresses he charges through the entire reactionary spectrum. Gordon-Levitt keeps each emotion light enough for the comedy, but packs unexpected power during emotional scenes.
Elevating Gordon-Levitt's performance further is an equally powerful supporting cast. Seth Rogen, who plays Kyle, Adams childhood friend, drives the comedy constantly forward as he tries to take advantage of Adam's situation and use it to get laid. Katie, played by Anna Kendrick, is Adam’s inexperienced therapist who is adorably awkward throughout the film. Bryce Dallas Howard, who plays Adam's girlfriend, Rachael, seems to be the closest thing there is to an antagonist in this film, as she tries to decide whether she can handle having a terminally ill boyfriend and makes bad decisions over and over again.
Don't let my focus on the seriousness of the topic fool you, this is still a comedy at heart, with a script that doesn’t quit, and moments that turn from heart wrenching to hilarious in the blink of an eye. Everything isn't perfect though. Early in the film, Gordon-Levitt over emphasizes Adam’s detachment from the situation to such an extent that Adam doesn't seem bothered by having cancer. This helps the comedy and gives room for growth, but makes it unrealistic. The music selection is fitting, but is nothing to write home about. But by the time you reach the finale, all of these minor gripes will have been long forgotten.
Jonathan Levine dances on a fine line between comedy and drama but never looks down, and a smattering of minor issues don’t keep this piece from being a hilarious but dramatically heartwarming look at a serious disease.
"50/50" gets 4.5 reassuring gestures out of 5
Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron
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