50/50 - Movie Review

50/50 (R) 99 minutes A-
A Cure For the Pain

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston.

I was squirming in my seat all throughout this film.  The thought of a massive cancerous tumor growing on my spine is a bit unnerving.  Yet, that was the predicament of our protagonist in Jonathan Levine's latest film, 50/50.  The dramedy starring Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is about a twenty-something public radio employee, Adam, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. Adam, who doesn't drink, smoke or drive, naturally views the diagnosis as a death sentence.  Furthermore, to add insult to injury, his relationship with his girlfriend dissolves during chemo treatments, leaving him to rely on his womanizing best friend, his inexperienced (but terminally cute) therapist and worrisome mother.  It all sounds pretty serious and sad (and it is), but it is also laugh-out-loud funny.  Based on a true story (Rogan's real life friend, Will Reiser), the film was better than I expected.  It also had me weeping like a little b*tch!

Recommended.