Jonathan Levine is a fairly new director in the film scene, having done only two movies prior to 50/50. His inexperience doesn’t detract from the fact that 50/50 has been one of the most promising films of the year since its conception.
Inspired by a true story, 50/50 follows a young man diagnosed with cancer and only a 50% chance to live through it. What follows is a story filled with heart, laughter, and inspiration.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, the ill-diagnosed 27 year old. His friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen) helps him along the ride by showing him all of life’s joys while attempting to avoid the pitfalls of cancer itself, whereas his therapist (Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air and Twilight) is younger than him and fairly new at consoling someone with a life-threatening disease. These three come together to make a powerful cast that tugs on our heartstrings while still providing many quick-witted humor throughout.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives one of his best performances yet and gets the audience to laugh and even cry with him. The emotional weight of a young person diagnosed with cancer can easily be underplayed, but Gordon-Levitt overcomes that and makes us feel for Adam.
Rogen and Kendrick are the perfect supporting actors for their roles, giving us many moments of laughter while letting Gordon-Levitt shine emotionally. Angelica Huston, playing the mother, also tugs on our heartstrings and gives one of her best, and most worrisome, performances in years.
Everything in 50/50 rides on the performances of the actors, but that isn’t to say a fantastic script, courtesy of Will Reiser, isn’t the driving force. Of course, typical crude humor is sprinkled throughout the story, but just not enough to detract from the emotion.
Instead, you can be crying one minute and then laughing at Seth Rogen antics the moment after. Most importantly, the emotion doesn’t go so far to be sappy. It’s the perfect balance of humor and heart to give us a film unlike others of its kind.
50/50 could have left a lot hanging in the balance of heart and humor, but instead of giving too much to one side, it walks that tightrope perfectly. It isn’t your typical drama and it’s not exactly a full-fledged comedy, either. 50/50 sits in a class all on its own, and it demands to be seen.
