50/50

"If you were a slot machine you would have the greatest odds in the world" says Kyle to his best friend Adam Lerner. Unfortunately this is in response to the news that in looking up his cancer diagnosis on the Internet Adam has learned that his chances are, as the movie's title says, 50/50.

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam and Seth Rogan as Kyle this movie garnered significant praise when released in 2011. Watching the movie last night I see why, the movie is a winner.

Rogan is himself, does he really do anything but play himself. The fact that the movie is loosely based on the experiences of Rogan's friend and the sreenwriter Will Reiser makes Rogan familiar with the story for sure.

Lerner is blindsided with the news, first delivered to his doctor's taping unit, before the doctor looks up and realizes that the phrase malignant tumor has caught Adam's attention. Can you imagine getting your diagnosis this way?

Adam's girlfriend is supportive. Played by Bryce Dallas Howard she is a picture of conflict. In her twenties herself, in a relationship that was surely not a definite she is trying to do what people in the movies do. Still she is conflicted. Even when Adam gives her an out, admitting she did not buy in for this, she stays. Soon however it becomes too much and when Kyle, who does not like her in the first place catches her cheating he is much too happy to tell Adam.

With the removal of that not as despicable character as the movie makes her out to be Adam goes out girl hunting with Kyle. As Kyle soon learns Adam is good bait. Adam is not so sure.

Adam's mother wants to take care of him and he resists. His Dad has Alzheimers and her presence is not always relaxing. Angelica Huston is strong as Adam's mom.

Adam has a therapist that helps him with his feelings about his diagnosis and subsequent treatment. New at her job herself Katherine, played by Anna Kendrick, and he develop a friendship that might be moving into an area not considered proper between doctor and patient.

The relationship Adam develops in his daily chemo treatments with a couple of older gentleman is very moving. When soon after visiting and smoking medicinal marijuana at the home of one of these gentleman he learns that he has died the end result of the disease comes crashing home.


Finally he is told that the tumor in his spine is not responding to treatment and s dangerous surgery is needed. The surgery if not successful will be the last course of action. As the surgery approaches Adam's composure fades. Locking Kyle out of the car he screams and as he tells Kathy when he calls her " might have broken his larynx." he scares Kyle. Later that night with Kyle drunk he deposits him on his couch. Using the bathroom he sees a book that Kyle has in his house about Getting Thru Cancer Together. Picking it up he sees the pages thumbed, Kyle has read the whole book. He realizes that while Kyle did want to use his sickness to get girls, he genuinely cared about him in his stoner way. It is a moving scene.

On the day of his surgery he hugs his Mom and cries, tells his Dad he may have trouble following along but he wants him to know he loves him. His Dad's response of Ok is sweet and a great understatement of the ravages of that disease.

As we all wait for the results of the surgery the doctor appears. He states all the problems and complications that have happened, and THEN states he will be ok. Kyle reminds the doctor they should start out with that part. A good point.

This is a good movie. Tugs at the heartstrings while being realistic and not maudlin. Well done.