On the couch

50/50
*****
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Seth Rogen; Anna Kendrick; Bryce Dallas Howard; Anjelica Huston

There’s a weird type of cancer that’s only ever found in Hollywood. A virulent, melodramatic strain, it seems to target some very specific members of the community. People with everything to live for; those with too much to lose; anyone in possession of a kid, a pet or an elderly relative (all cute and, where appropriate, sassy) or smokers who have expressed a disinterest in quitting or active fondness for smoking/chewing tobacco/huffing asbestos are all groups at significant risk of Hollywood cancer.

 

Unlike the many forms of cancer we normal proles are subject to – the ones that aren’t to be joked about under any circumstance and can be agonising, faith-rattling and family-rending even when survived – the symptoms of Hollywood cancer generally include, but aren’t limited to, wracking introspection, uncontrollable bouts of melodrama or day ceasing (also known as “Dead Poets’ Syndrome”) and chronic philosophising.

Some patients have also reported unusually short haircuts that seem unusually hip and others, general more elfin-featured and possessing of nice shaped heads, may lose all their hair due to either their condition or the treatment.

In 50/50 Joseph Gordon-Levitt does not have Hollywood cancer. While  Jonathan Levine’s comedy-drama may feature a considerably larger amount of mirth, comfortably awkward dialogue and good-looking people than real life, if also does its best to stear clear of the normal tropes involving serious sickness in movies and, in doing so, provides one of the most heart-felt flicks you’re likely to see this summer.

Levitt stars as Adam Lerner, aspiring radio producer, boyfriend to aspiring artist Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) and best friend to Kyle (Seth Rogen). Stuck in a rut of his own manufacture, as only modern everyman heroes tend to be these days, a trip to the doctor about a bit of tiredness and a few headaches sees him landed with the news that he has an advanced and rare form of spinal cancer and needs to start chemotherapy pronto to have any hope of recovery.

Once this bomb is dropped, however, something interesting happens. Adam doesn’t write a bucket list and enlist his bezzie mate and missus to help him tick things off till the clock runs out. Neither does he develop a super-power, don a cape and decide to right some wrongs before shuffling off the mortal coil, manfully staring down the grim reaper’s icy gaze.

Instead he does what any of us would do. He gets scared, he calls his mum (Anjelica Heuston in storming form) and he gets ready to take his medicine. And it sucks.

It sucks hard and it’s unpleasant and it is made clear that chemo – so often portrayed in films as a magic bullet that’ll clear up cancer as easily as taking a dose of Lemsip – is an ordeal unto itself, requiring the support of friends, family and a healthy dose of good humour just to get through.

One of 50/50’s most distinguishing features is it is an honestly amusing flick. Rather than light and fluffy humour, however, the tone is bawdy. Instead of skirting the issue of illness, jokes are made at its expense and, in one case, it’s used as a tool to pick up girls.

Along the way Adam makes friends with a pair of auld fellas in his chemo sessions, played brilliantly by Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer and starts attending couselling with a young and inexperienced therapist played by Anna Kendrick.

Along with Howard and Rogan, Kendrick provides a strong backbone to the film and has a nice, awkward chemistry with her patient.

Not deviating too much from his usual, boisterous persona, Rogan still gives his character a realistic edge. He’s keeping spirits high with plenty of ‘bro’ humour but small moments reveal how hard it is not to get depressed about his mate’s condition.

Above all though 50/50 is Gordon-Levitt’s film. Yet another in a growing list of great roles, he once again gives a controlled, human performance that says a lot without succumbing to grandstanding.
And that’s it. 50/50 is a film about a guy who gets sick. You’ll laugh and it’ll make you think. What more could you possibly want?