Editor's Note: Burnsville Patch offers a movie review, published each weekend. Check back next week for Patch commentary on the latest films to hit the silver screen.
The title of this film, “50/50,” refers to the survival rate of the cancer, but could also apply to the movie — a touching half-comedy, half-drama from writer Will Reiser.
Ther film is inspired by Reiser's own battle with cancer, which began shortly after he began working on "Da Ali G Show."
"Will got better, and when he did, we thought the best way to pull something good out of the situation was to get him to write a screenplay. Ideally, we wanted to make a film that would be as funny, sad and hopefully as honest as the experience we went through," Actor Seth Rogen said on the movie's official web site.
Mission accomplished, as far as I'm concerned.
Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The film follows the travails of a man named Adam — played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt — a Seattle radio reporter who is diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27 and undergoes chemotherapy.
Rogen, who is Reiser’s best friend, plays Adam’s best friend and co-worker Kyle. He does his best to help his friend be positive throughout the process, providing much of the film’s funnier moments.
On the other side of the coin is Adam’s live-in girlfriend, Rachel, (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) decides to stay by his side, but soon realizes that she is not up to the task.
His mother (Angelica Houston), is worried about her son, but she has her hands full taking care of Adam's father, who has Alzheimer's disease.
The outstanding cast does a good job of navigating difficult territory: In their hands, the film has just the right mix of lightness and gravity. The movie neither succumbs to melodrama nor underplays the pain of a young person dealing with cancer and possible death.
GRADE B+: The movie has the a good balance of comedy, with just the right amount of laughs, despite a heavy topic.
Also opening this week “Courageous,” “Dream House” and “What's Your Number?” Opening next weekend – “Real Steel,” “The Ides of March” and “The Way.”
For a full list of movie times at the Paragon Odyssey 15 in Burnsville, click here.
