50/50

UK Release: 25th November 2011

Watched on DVD: Monday 31st December 2012

Rating: 15

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Runtime: 1hr 40mins

IMDb Plot Synopsis: Adam is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend, his mother, and a young therapist at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.

My Review: Continuing my watch-as-many-Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-movies-I-can-find saga I decided to give this well-acclaimed ‘cancer’ movie. There aren’t many good cancer films, probably because it’s still an incredibly sensitive subject for people, but 50/50 is definitely one of the best. It perfectly balances humour and tragedy as JG-L gives a fantastically gripping performance (as always!) as Adam, whose life gets turned upside as he is diagnosed with cancer in his late twenties. 
Therefore you mostly get, what could have been quite predictable, his journey as he battles the disease and tries to live life to the fullest with a 50/50 chance of his survival. What you also get is some laugh out loud, right on the mark, moments as well as some scenes where I was holding back the tears.

Anna Kendrick was excellent as Adam’s therapist and her and JG-L had some great chemistry which you couldn’t help but root for. 
Cancer may still be a taboo subject comedy wise but I think 50/50 is an important look at how it affects young people as well as older people and is life-affirming in it’s outlook of living life to the fullest despite the ups and downs. I absolutely recommend it if you get a chance to see it...

Score: 8.5/10