Anna Kendrick plays Katherine McKay, the inexperienced therapist of cancer-patient Adam Lemer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Jonathan Levine's '50/50' (2011). The film is based on the real-life experience of Will Reiser, screenwriter and a close friend of Seth Rogen, who also stars in the film.
One is spoilt for choice for films, well mostly, while flying with British Airways. The films are classified as: Classics, World Cinema, Contemporary and Avant Garde. Fifty Fifty falls under the last category and the reason is not hard to surmise. The film is publicized as a ‘cancer comedy’ but the comedy is not boisterous, and the cancer is not in your face. What one gets is a heart-warming and quirky tale of the protagonist. The film, directed by Jonathan Levine, deals with the subject of cancer with delicacy and sensitivity. It gives a miss to the maudlin sentimentality of a Terms of Endearment or even a Love Story. Based on a true story by Will Reiser, a cancer survivor, the film combines the elements of drama with buddy movie, and manages to raise laughs at the appropriate places.
Adam Lemer (Joseph Gordon- Levitt), a Seattle based producer for an NPR station , discovers that he has a kind of spinal cancer (“How did you get it?” he is asked by a girl. “Bad mattress, I guess,” is his poker-faced response). Are there any chances of getting well? Yes, his chances are fifty-fifty, announces the doctor. He goes through chemo, houses a skinny dog, makes friends with senior citizens also being treated for cancer, and puts up with his bitch of a girlfriend, Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard). All this he does with his nerdy friend Kyle’s (Seth Rogen) unflinching support whose philosophy is simple: If Adam’s disease can help him get sympathy—and girls—then he must make a go at it.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer, Inception, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Dark Knight Rises, Lincoln) has an easy charm and presence, which make us root for him throughout. Though JGL replaced the brilliant James McAvoy, he makes the role his own. His Adam is sweet, courteous to a fault (he insists on throwing away the trash on his therapist’s car floor) and yet the actor lets us have a glimpse of the character’s anguish even with his eyes downcast.
Seth Rogen plays the hero’s best friend. The actor has been getting good reviews for his turn as Lemer’s horny, loud, wisecracking friend, and his boorish Kyle is a perfect foil to the sensitive JGL. Anjelica Huston as Adam’s protective and eccentric mother does a fantastic cameo.
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) plays yet another earnest, upright young woman, as Adam’s therapist. “Doogie Howser?” he mocks her. “Who’s that?” is her naïve response. The film thankfully does not turn into a love story in spite of the screen chemistry between the two actors.
Mawkishness could have easily mangled the now famous hair-shaving scene, which was in fact shot on camera. After all, what could be more heart-wrenching than seeing a good-looking young man lose his hair? But the film pushes the experimental envelope here too. “What exactly do you shave with this?” Adam asks Kyle before starting to shave his hair. Kyle’s answer marks the rather irreverential tone of the movie.
If the dreaded C-word scares you off the film, let me assure you that this is a movie which is more about the human spirit, rather than the disease itself and its treatment. At one level, it is also a coming-of-age film, as Adam realizes the true worth of family and friendship. But above all, it is a movie that tells us to cherish every moment of our lives, since someone up there has a way of springing surprises at us when least expected.
Imaging Cinema 