50/50 (2011)

 Adam (JGL) is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend (Seth Rogen), his mother, and a young therapist (Anna Kendrick) at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.

50/50 had to clear some big hurdles to finally make it out to the theater because its subject matter was a fairly hard sell on its audience; how exactly do you market a comedy centered on a battle with cancer? Thank the movie gods that Summit Entertainment took the chance to get it out there because the movie is just a phenomenal piece of work. It does a great job of mixing in serious heart-felt moment’s in-between a slew of comedy to keep your experience constantly bouncing around. At its funniest high, you’re out of breathe and at its saddest, tears are rolling out. It’s a perfect mixture of everything you want out of a film.

 The film jumps rather quickly into the whole cancer disease, which benefited it tremendously as it allowed the film to take its time through the entire process and see all the ups and downs Adam (JGL) goes through. It well paced to make it feel funny, sad, and most of all real. This is a man who did everything right in the world yet somehow developed cancer. He doesn’t deserve this, so you want him to kick cancers ass and pull through. It’s a roller coaster of a journey that leaves you knowing you just watched something special.

Joseph Gordon Levitt’s has taken a much more unappealing way to fame, but through great performances in tiny indie films, he has created a huge fan base that goes bananas over anything he does. I know because I am one of them. I can say with some good confidence this is the best work he has ever done to date. He takes the character Adam and runs away with you. The entire film, he attempts to hide his emotions from everyone as to not burden them. That’s just the type of guy he is, but in those moments of helplessness, JGL lays it all on the line and pulls at your heart. The dude had me in tears, making me feel vulnerable to pain. Simply Amazing. A lot, but not all of the comedy, comes from Seth Rogan. It is his usual raunchy comedy, but it feels right in this film. He feels perfectly casted as the best friend who loves him but doesn’t show it type of guy. So even if you’re not a fan of his comedy, you’ll still find it enjoyable here. Throw in a small, cute, important role by Anna Kendrick and you have a winning cast.

50/50 shocked me. I knew it was going to be funny, but didn’t realize it’d be hilarious. I knew it’d be sad, but never thought I’d be tearing up. I knew it was going to be good, but never this great. It’s the surprise hit of the year and will end up being one of the best films you see this year. I couldn’t be any more thankful to see these two months early, but it is truly terrible that I have to wait another two months to watch t again. It’s just one of those films. Don’t hesitate and go watch this that Friday it comes out, ou’ll love every second of it.

Overall Score: 10/10