Movie Blog

Touching, loving, and funny are just some of the many words to describe “50/50”. A heads up to all movie-fanatics, this movie should be put on the movies-to-watch-list for many reasons.

The journey of life accompanies many twists and turns in which man usually finds himself back on the right track. However, there are some obstacles that are overlooked and become difficult to come across. In the movie “50/50” directed by Jonathan Levine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the role of Adam Learner, a 27-year old that works as a writer for a Seattle-based radio station. Learner is facing the worst crisis a man can face, cancer. Unfortunately, according to the cancer statistics, Adam has a 50% chance of surviving. His best friend, Kyle played by Seth Rogen, uses Adam’s diagnosis in a way to meet new girls because Levitt’s onscreen girlfriend Rachael, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, cheats on Adam because of his health, ending their relationship.

Nevertheless, during chemotherapy, Adam meets a couple of other cancer patients with whom he eventually begins to form a strong bond with. Alongside the chemo, Katherine, a psychology grad school student, played by Anna Kendrick, is doing her practicum when she meets Adam as a patient, and tries her best to say the right things to him.

Considering this movie is about such a sensitive subject matter like cancer, somehow writer Will Reiser, incorporated the right amount of comedy so the film was light hearted, yet still hit home for some people. Seth Rogen plays his usual role, such as in his previous hit, Superbad. In Superbad and 50/50 Rogen plays the role of a funny and creative character who is always up to something which is usually opposite to the norm. For example, in this movie he uses Adam’s diagnosis as a way to pickup girls at local bars; this indicates that realistically best friends wouldn’t be making light of such a serious predicament. But 50/50 just wouldn’t have been the same movie if it wasn’t for the light and tasteful sense of humour brought forth by Rogen. I believe Reiser wanted to integrate comedy due to the fact all serious illness movies are sad and dramatic. Moreover, the comedy aspect of “50/50” gives mixed feelings which keeps the audience more engaged. Also, the fact that the movie is “inspired by a true story” can grab the attention of many viewers, especially the ones who may be personally suffering from cancer, and even caters to those who many know someone near and dear who has cancer, giving them a sense of hope or at least an excellent coping mechanism.

Here we have the Trailer to 50/50

Overall, the acting among majority of the characters is well acted out except for a few characters. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does an excellent job of playing a role of a man who sees his life coming to an end. However, his girlfriend, played by Bryce Howard, does a poor job of accepting the news of Adam’s illness. Her character had no emotion and didn’t seem to worry when finding out her boyfriend has a 50% chance of living.

For those looking for a movie similar to 50/50, but crave a more dramatic nature, “Uncertainty” directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, has the drama without the comedy. A couple whose life is changed with the flip of a coin resonates the same central issue of 50/50, because with the flip of a coin there is only a 50 percent chance of getting what you want.