50/50

Review by Sean Lynch

When it comes to films focusing on humanities greatest equaliser, cancer, chances are you can expect at least some of the following : Over dramatic teary farewells, melodramatic moments of 'coming to terms with death' and glossy 'embracing life' montages fueled by a sappy radio friendly pop song.

The good news for 50 / 50 viewers is that all cliches are thrown out the door, in fact, they are rolled up, mixed with some weed, smoked and followed up with a bag of Dorritos.

Based on an inspiring true story, 50/50 is an original and witty tale about friendship, love, survival and finding humour in unlikely places. 

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27 year old writer of radio programs whose life changes forever when he is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. 

With the help of his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), his mother Diane (Anjelica Huston), and a young therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick) at the cancer centre, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.

What makes 50/50 a truly excellent piece of cinema is director Jonathan Levine's ability to perfectly handle realism, comedy & drama. It's a mix, without question, Judd Apatow was desperately trying to achieve with Funny People but never quite could master. Levine has it just right here.

Anyone who has lived through a similar experience, with any disease, can tell you that life with cancer isn't as it is in My Sister's Keeper. It isn't constant tears and joy, it's just as mundane as normal life - with the added stress of thinking of mortality.

What 50/50 captures perfectly is the relationship between two best guy friends without ever Hollywoodifying it. It's just as much of an exploration of a bromance as it is anything else.

Guys don't communicate, they do what they can, how they can - it's often what goes unsaid that deliver the most significant moments of any friendship. And that notion is wonderfully represented here thanks to the interplay and chemistry between Rogen and Gordon-Levitt.

At no point does Levine exploit any emotional or tonal opportunities most movies would have just for cheap laughs or tears, which makes scenes like the one involving Adam's moments of fear prior to going under the knife even more powerful.

50 /50 is touching, heartwarming and genuinely laugh out loud funny - easily one of the best films to hit Australian cinemas this year.

4.5 out of 5

50/50
Australian release: 8th March, 2012
Official Site: 50/50
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick
Director: Jonathan Levine