50/50
Release date: September 30, 2011
Director: Jonathan Levine
Screenplay by: Will Reiser
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anjelica Huston, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard
How funny can cancer be? We can ask Laura Linney’s The Big C.
50/50 isn’t really a comedy. You won’t be leaving the theater saying “Ha! Ha! That cancer is a hoot! My god, I wish I had cancer!” But the film manages to balance drama with a lot of light moments of tension.
The film starts with Adam (JGL) jogging around Vancouver, which is meant to represent Seattle — I’m sorry, I had to point that out because the film brought back so many memories. Adam is your healthy, twenty-something average guy — he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke and he recycles. Goes to show you that being too good doesn’t always pay.
His best pal, Kyle (Rogen), on the other hand, drinks, smokes weed and spends his time pestering women to sleep with him. Typical Seth Rogen shtick.
Adam is feeling a little bit under the weather, so he gets himself checked. The doctor tells him he’s got some type of weird cancer in his spine. Because of his strained relationship with his mother, Diane (Huston), and his Alzheimer-ridden father, Richard (Serge Houde) — the stuff made for comedy gold, huh? — Adam reveals the bad news to his artist girlfriend, Rachael (Howard), hoping that she won’t bail on him because of this obstacle in their relationship.
The film’s tagline — “It takes a pair to beat the odds” — seems to suggest that 50/50 is a buddy film in which Adam, with the help of his best friend, must beat cancer — that or it could be talking about some cojones. But what really makes the film is Adam’s relationship with his mother. When we first meet Anjelica Huston’s character, she seems like your average overbearing mother and we understand why Adam might be pushing her away. It takes Anna Kendrick to tells us we are all pricks for thinking that, and that we have to understand why Adam’s mom acts the way she does.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is his good acting self — I mean, has the guy ever sucked? His scene losing it in the car and the scene at the hospital are the film’s best scenes. The weakest link in 50/50 was Seth Rogen. I know people say he had range in this film… but he really didn’t. I mean, he did the same thing hees done in all his movies. There’s a scene where his character gets some depth, but Rogen isn’t even part of that scene. It’s all Gordon-Levitt there, Rogen is passed out on his couch.
Having said that, I did enjoy the film. Kyle calling Rachael out on her shenanigans was something a lot of people wish they could do, and I’m feeling a little bit sorry for Bryce Dallas Howard, who’s getting a lot of bitch parts on films — The Help. And that Doogie Howser reference with Anna Kendrick’s reaction as that zen but worrisome doctor was hilarious.
I think it’s pretty predictable that 50/50 is going to get a nomination for Best Comedy (which it isn’t, really) at the Globes, and that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a shoo-in for Best Actor in a Comedy. Anjelica Huston’s nomination in a supporting category is tougher, but deserved.
Rating: 
Totally agree about Seth Rogen. I was disappointed that he was merely used as comic relief the entire time and that he did very little real acting. Nonetheless, solid movie that mixed the drama of cancer with some more light-hearted moments quite well. The best aspect of 50/50 is its honesty and rawness. It felt real and I appreciated that.
@Castor, yeah – throughout all of the film we were shown Rogen trying to get JGL to hook up with someone and party, and worse of all Rogen trying to get some at JGL’s expense, and then they thought by showing us the book, it would all be fine.
I gotta admit JGL had chemistry with everyone though. The scene with Kendrick in the car, and all the trash… it was pretty gross, and Anna kept saying to not judge her. xD
I don’t feel like I have seen many great comedies this year. How do you think the Globes Comedy Picture category will do? 50/50 against The Muppets, I guess.
@amy, I can also see Bridesmaids as a secure candidate for a nomination given that it’s as popular with fans and critics in the same way the first Hangover film was. And then I would add Midnight in Paris and Win Win for a strong 5-movie lineup at the Globes. But then again, the Globes may put up an odd candidate to the nominee list.
@amy, Let’s just say the Globes had The Tourist as Best Comedy or Musical last year so I don’t really take them seriously at all anymore.
@Castor, true. that’s true.
But Rodrigo is right in his suggestions though… – the Animation category, though. That’s shaping up to be a week one this year.