"Is that, like, a medical term?"
The shortcut reviews of 50/50 claim it is a 'cancer comedy', but the humour is only one aspect of this wonderful film. By turns harrowing, heartbreaking, joyous and - yes - very funny, the film is just as concerned with the young man who develops a rare form of spinal cancer as it is with the people around him. 50/50 is without doubt Joseph Gordon-Levitt's film (amazingly a short-notice replacement), giving yet another immensely credible and considered performance that marks him out as one of the very best actors of his generation, yet there are many fine performances on display to enjoy: Seth Rogen underplays beautifully and offers fine support as the best friend, Anjelica Huston (curiously underused here) does the Shirley MacLaine-mother-role most effectively, Anna Kendrick is delightful as the naive care worker, and even Bryce Dallas-Howard as the girlfriend's initially seemingly-overplayed characterisation makes perfect sense as her character arc develops. There is a tendency to resort to cliche at times, which is perhaps unavoidable in the life-threatening-illness genre, from the insipid indie-styled soundtrack to predictable visuals (the close-up chemo drip with a rainy window pane in the background is a standout), but the characters at no point feel false or forced. Inspired by the writer's own true story and his friendship with Rogen, 50/50 takes the viewer on quite an emotional journey and provides much to admire all round.
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