Flicks Review: 50/50

If you’re in the mood for a funny movie with a few tearful moments, this is the one to see. Inspired by a true story, 50/50 tells the tale of 27-year-old Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. The movie shows Adam’s journey as he tries to not only beat his cancer, but also come to terms with his projected 50 per cent chance of survival.

Despite the sober topic, this movie provides an appropriate amount of humour, mostly provided by Adam’s best friend Kyle (played by Seth Rogen). Here, Rogen manages to bring along with his usual slapstick comedy a more developed character—a slightly obscene, but kind one. And Rogen isn’t the only one who provides the “funny” within the “sad.” In fact, the only character that isn’t funny is Gordon-Levitt, which is what makes this movie work so well. Every awkward moment between Katherine, a 24-year-old, barely-out-of-university psychologist, and Adam, the cute 27-year-old cancer patient is exposed through this dynamic. Besides this, the typical overbearing mother character is taken to a whole new level with Adam’s mom, Diane (Anjelica Huston). Yet all of this becomes balanced by the central storyline of Adam’s soberness, adding to the realism of the whole film.

Ultimately, this movie provides viewers with a comedy, but more pertinently, gives insight into the physical trials of chemotherapy, and the psychological consequences of a young cancer patient. It’s definitely a must-see.