50/50 (2011)

A 27 year old man (Joseph Gordon Levitt) is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that is growing on his spine. As he deals with his possible mortality as well as chemotherapy, he must also deal with foul mouthed sex hungry best friend (Seth Rogen), his unfaithful girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard) and his clinging mother (Anjelica Huston). I should mention that this is a comedy, yes, a comedy! Written by Will Reiser and based on his own cancer bout, this should have the ring of truth about it but it all comes across as contrived and not as daring as it would like to think it is. A TERMS OF ENDEARMENT for the 2000s but not as good. The characters come across as caricatures despite the consistently fine performances, most notably Rogen and Huston, by the entire cast. Poor Bryce Dallas Howard! After her work in THE HELP and now this, she seems to have cornered the market on playing bitches. The soundtrack is fairly awful between Michael Giacchino's tinkly syrupy score and the pop songs which tell you how you're supposed to feel at that particular moment. I must confess I'm rather perplexed by the positive reviews the film has received. Directed by Jonathan Levine. With Anna Kendrick (UP IN THE AIR), Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer.