REVIEW: To laugh, to cry or to shave your head dry?
Courtesy: Summit Entertainment
Ashley Smith
The Signal
Young, full of life and unconcerned about the future describes most adults in their 20s, but what happens when the idea of death is abruptly thrown at a member of this age group? The powerful film “50/50” takes a look at that very issue.
The film follows Adam, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a safety-minded 20-something who approaches life cautiously, to the extent that he doesn’t drive a car because as he mentions it is the third-leading cause of death. When Adam goes to the doctor for a simple backache, he learns he has a tumor on his spine and, after a WebMD search, discovers it comes with a 50 percent chance of survival. The film delves not only into how Adam deals with the diagnosis but also how the people around him handle the situation.
At first glance, Adam’s girlfriend Rachel, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, plays the part of the supportive and emotionally tuned in friend. She stays with him every night and drives him to chemotherapy. As the disease and treatments wear on Adam, they also wear on the couple’s relationship.
Then there is Adam’s best friend, Kyle, played by Seth Rogen, the film’s welcome comic relief. He is always there throughout the darkest moments in Adam’s life, usually trying to figure out ways to use Adam’s situation to pick up women. The chemistry between Rogen and Gordon-Levitt is natural and balanced, with each one bringing out the best in the other.
While other films dealing with life and death situations tend to focus on illness and how it changes not only the one afflicted but also those around them, “50/50” portrays how people deal with day-to-day life when tragedy strikes without heartfelt sugarcoating. Essentially this is a guy’s heart-wrenching drama. Where “Knocked Up” gave guys a reason to enjoy romantic comedies, “50/50” does the same for emotional drama.
Courtesy: Summit Entertainment
Death is a heavy subject matter to deal with, but director Jonathan Levine and writer Will Reiser do almost the impossible in weaving humor seamlessly into the drama, creating a film that allows audiences to both laugh hard and cry hard. Even with the use of humor, they do not shy away from the harsh reality that comes with fighting cancer – from the initial diagnosis, to the devastating effects of chemotherapy treatments, to the reality that, in the end, it may not be enough.
Helping Adam cope with his illness is therapist-in-training Katie, played by Oscar-nominee Anna Kendrick. This had to be the weirdest casting, because of Kendrick’s age, but filmmakers don’t try to hide that fact and instead make jokes about her age and lack of experience. Kendrick’s portrayal of the neurotic Katie is a welcome relief to the harsh subject matter. Throughout the film, both Katie and Adam learn to cope, and both become emotionally stronger because of it.
Everyone – young and old – eventually has to deal with tragedy and illness at some point in their life. If “50/50” shows audiences anything, it’s this: it’s not about what happens in life that defines a person, but it’s how a person reacts to a situation that shows their true personality.
“50/50” opens in theaters Sept. 30.
