On Sunday night my roommates and I decided to drag ourselves off of the couch, shake off the candy wrappers and tortilla chip crumbs that covered our laps, and go see a movie. We’d all seen trailers for “50/50,” and being girls who always welcome a good cry we thought a cancer-comedy might suit us better than “Puss in Boots” or “Paranormal Activity 3.”
“50/50” is a film based on the real-life experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser that addresses the difficult question of how a young twenty-something deals with a life-threatening illness. The movie is headlined by a pretty impressive cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes the lead as Adam, our tumor-stricken protagonist, and Seth Rogen gives a sweet portrayal of Levitt’s steadfast comic relief of a best friend. Anjelica Huston, one of my favorite women on earth, plays Levitt’s overprotective, smothering mother and Bryce Dallas Howard succeeds in getting the audience to despise her in her role as Adam’s cheating girlfriend.
Levitt’s Adam is your everyday guy, 27 years old and working in radio when he learns that the back pain he’s been experiencing is actually indicative of a huge malignant spinal tumor. His life begins to unravel as he accepts his illness, faces chemotherapy, and deals with a girlfriend who says his cancer is “too much” for her. For me, the shining star of the film was Seth Rogen, whose portrayal of Adam’s best friend Kyle is believable, touching, and definitely relatable.
I also enjoyed Anna Kendrick’s performance as Adam’s therapist– I’ve always thought she was a great actress. Indeed, in my opinion she was the single best part of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” and she didn’t fail to deliver in this film. Her performance was believable, as well as the perfect counterpart to Bryce Dallas Howard’s mean-girlfriend archetype.
The film’s real success lies in its delicate balance of humor and drama– corny as it is, I laughed and I cried (mostly cried). The subject of cancer is a sensitive one, and “50/50” deals with the pressures and heartbreak of facing a life-threatening illness gracefully.
Without giving too much away, dear readers, I really enjoyed this film. I even recommended it to my mom, (something I wouldn’t normally do with a Seth Rogen film; profanity is not something she appreciates), to whom I found many similarities in Anjelica Huston’s character. I highly recommend a trip to your nearest movie theater, (I went to the one on the corner of 86th and 3rd), with your pockets stuffed with tissues. It’s not the easiest movie to watch, but I think there’s a 90/100 chance you’ll walk out of the theater smiling.
And what could complete an evening better than adding dinner to your movie? After your film viewing, why not head over to Singa’s for a delicious, (and free), pizza meal with your student ID and this coupon!
Olivia, Fordham University 2012
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