Review of 50/50 (2011) by Filmdilettante — 24 Oct 2011

If you think of life as a tree, then you will eventually come to understand that some relationships are the roots while others are the leaves. I am reminded of this analogy as I review the independent feature film 50/50, a worthy effort directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Will Reiser about a 25-year old man in Seattle diagnosed with cancer of the spine. Coincidentally, on the day I saw 50/50, I listened to the NPR interview with Will Reiser who explained the screenplay is loosely based on his own experience with cancer. I was most struck with Reiser's comments about the evolution of his relationship with his mother post-diagnosis, and that Seth Rogen is both his friend in real life as well as the film. When Adam's persistent back pain leads to a cancer diagnosis, his relationships begin to take their respective places on his tree. Joseph Gordon-Leavitt (Inception, 500 Days of Summer) is Adam, a Seattle Public Radio reporter. At the opening of the film he is living with girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help), an aspiring artist. Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up) plays his co-worker and best friend Kyle. Anjelica Huston (Choke, The Darjeeling Limited) plays Diane, Adam's mother whose controlling presence is a source of irritation. Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) plays the recently initiated young cancer support therapist Katherine who helps Adam negotiate his emotional land mines. In addition to this able cast, Phillip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer portray the fellow chemotherapy patients whose wisdom provide additional insight, humor and pathos to the story.

Gordon-Leavitt puts in an appealing performance as Adam, effectively portraying the fear, disbelief and frustration of a cancer patient. He is an apt straight man for the antics of Seth Rogen who brings his entertaining signature schtick to the performance as Adam's sometimes bumbling but always well-meaning friend. Kendrick delivers the best and most refreshing performance as the therapist, alternating between idealism and frustration, but never giving up. Likewise, Huston brings neuroses, strength and vulnerability to her role in equal parts, and Howard's Rachael is sufficiently shallow to make us applaud when Adam finally gives her the boot. For me, the pleasure of 50/50 is in Adam's realizations about the role of his life relationships as revealed during a time of crisis, and I came to further admire Seth Rogen not only as an actor, but also as a person of character who in real life came through for a friend. This film contains plenty of the young fresh faces and irreverent humor that characterize much of indie film today, and if you like that genre as I do, then you will enjoy 50/50 for that reason alone. However, because this film also insightfully portrays prevalent medical issues, it has an appeal beyond indie audiences. Additionally, the humor keeps the story from descending into Lifetime channel drivel. For these reasons, I rate 50/50 6 out of 10.

This review also appeared at www.filmdilettante.