50/50

Cancer. It’s not supposed to be something that makes you laugh. Well, unless you’re having a guilty chuckle at Jimmy Carr’s latest controversial cracker. 50/50 doesn’t court controversy, it just reminds us that however much shit happens, there’s always something to laugh about. And maybe sometimes, that something is a massive spinal tumour.

Starring Seth Rogen and written by Will Reiser, Rogen’s real life best friend, 50/50 is based on Resier’s own battle with cancer and Rogen’s solution to his problem: smoke a lot of pot and try to get laid.

In the film, the part loosely based on Reiser is taken on by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He plays Adam, a 27-year-old Seattle based push over. Suffering under an overbearing mother (Angelica Huston) and a girlfriend (Bryce Dallas-Howard) who provokes one of the most deserved and hilarious uses of the word “c*nt” we’ve ever heard, Adam’s life takes a turn from the mundane to the down right depressive. Even an eternal optimist would say it goes tits up after a routine MRI reveals a malignant tumour in his back.

It’s a discovery we shouldn’t laugh at, but Gordon-Levitt’s performance as the ever sincere Adam causes a unanimous titter as he claims he can’t have cancer, because he recycles. Gordon-Levitt’s performance is equally matched by a group of actors who are cast perfectly. Even Anna Kendrick as a shrink who looks like she’s only just out of nappies (not a fetish, she’s just really young).

Then there is Seth Rogen. Some might accuse him of playing Seth Rogen, but in reality this isn’t a criticism; his character, Kyle, was the part he played when his friend was actually sick. This is just the big screen version. And with this big screen re-creation come the big laughs. Be it offering up a hair trimmer for Adam that’s previously only ever visited his scrotum, suggesting cancer is a turn on for girls or hot-boxing Adam’s whole house, the belly laughs are Rogen’s specialty and he delivers them well thanks to a slick script.

Of course, as much as we’d like it, it’s not all giggles, drugs and sex. The brilliant thing about this film is the fact that it fits that god-awful cliché of ‘emotional rollercoaster’ down to the ground. The script changes course on multiple occasions and leaves you crying with laughter and then just plain crying. Because, after all, cancer is some serious shit and that’s how you can tell this film is based on a true story; it shows us the changes in someone’s life when they are ravaged with disease.

In short, it’s a carefully considered blend of laughs, emotion and class C drugs that makes 50/50 one worth watching. It’s certainly not your typical Seth Rogen stoner comedy, but that’s actually a refreshing change. And, as Rogen also served as the film’s producer, it’s a welcome return to form after the monumental crap-fest that was Green Hornet, and hopefully it’s a sign of more good things on the way.