OK, first thing’s first, I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He’s by far my favourite actor. I mean it isn’t even close. Second, Seth Rogen is perhaps my second favourite comedic actor behind Will Ferrell. With that in mind it’s pretty clear that I was always going to like 50/50. You add in the cute and wonderful Anna Kendrick, plus Bryce Dallas Howard playing a mean-spirited bitch, and it all adds up to a wonderful film.
The film tells the story of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who’s diagnosed with cancer, how he attempts to cope with this diagnosis, and his struggle to overcome the disease with the help of his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) and his trainee therapist (Anna Kendrick).
It was pretty much a given that Gordon-Levitt and Kendrick would give good performances, Angelica Huston was good too as the overemotional and annoying mother that Adam just wanted to avoid, but I was impressed by Seth Rogen. He hasn’t played that many semi-serious roles so far in his career, except in Observe and Report and Funny People, but it’s always a treat when he does. He has the ability to be funny and serious at the same time, if that makes sense, and in 50/50 that ability is put to good use because he comes across like a best friend would do in that situation. Trying to lighten up his friend and make him feel like it’s not all bad. I also loved how Kyle fired into Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) after he caught her out and told Adam.
It was also pretty cool to have Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer in the film.
Ultimately, I think the film did a wonderful job showing what someone might go through if they were diagnosed with cancer. The world doesn’t end, they still have friends, they still have family, they still laugh, and there are people in their lives who will try and make it OK.
And spoiler alert, I absolutely loved loved loved the ending because I truly didn’t think that Adam and Katherine would end up together just because of the whole doctor/patient relationship thing.
