Seth Rogen has slowly established himself over the last few years as more than just an actor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has also been stepping up breaking out of his 3rd Rock From the Sun world and into becoming a really great actor. Their film together 50/50 was advertised as a comedy, but the subject matter promises the possibility of getting deeper than expected.
50/50 follows a young man who finds out he has a rare and possibly fatal form of cancer that sends his world into chaos. The story is pretty heavy, but still manages to come off funny. Rogen and Levitt both give great performances and have great chemistry together. Based on a true story of one of Rogen’s, he clearly takes this performance to heart with brining a more dramatic character to life unlike anything he has had the chance to show in his acting. Most of the really funny moments are thanks to Rogen, but delivered from a real life aspect as opposed to his normal stoner mentality. Levitt steps into this role with an innocence that adds to the character as well as taking himself on an emotional journey that works on every level. The surprising aspect of this film beyond the ability to pull off a comedy with such a grim subject but takes the story in a direction that you may or may not really expect.
This movie expresses everything needed to make it work to create an unforgettable and entertaining movie about a depressing subject. It is a great film on every level that is a treat to see. Rogen and Levitt are both outstanding in this film and show more range than ever. This film proves that it’s possible to tackle a very real and sad topic and treat it with the respect it deserves, but still make it fun to watch.
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