50/50 is a 2011 comedy-drama film directed by Jonathan Levine, written by Will Reiser, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. The film is loosely based on the life of screenwriter Will Reiser. The film was mostly filmed in Richmond and Vancouver, British Columbia as well as Seattle, Washington.
Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is jogging. In this opening montage. He is now in the shower trying different types of his girlfriends shampoo’s and conditioners.
He is in the room with his girlfriend: Bryce Dallas Howard as Rachael. They’re talking about plans for tonight. She is happy they they’re getting so close, and she has her own draw in Adam’s place. Kyle (Seth Rogen) is waiting outside in his car for Adam. Kyle smells Adam’s hair, and makes a joke about how his hair smells like he’s been fucking the girls on The View.
Cut to them at a coffee shop. Kyle is making about sex positions he has been doing with girls, and why Adam and his girlfriend haven’t been having much sex lately. And other sex stuff they should have been doing. They head into work. They work for a national Radio Station.
Adam is walking into the doctors to check out his back pain, which he has been having problems with. The doctor tells him that he has a tumor, and cancer. Adam tells his Rachael that he has cancer, then he tells Kyle, too. They both don’t take it so well. Kyle, however, makes jokes about Neil Armstrong, Dexter and Patrick Swayze. Adam’s tells his parents; Anjelica Huston as Diane Lerner and Serge Houde as Richard Lerner. His mother doesn’t take it too well. She flips out, and gets upset. She is worried who will take care of him. Rachael says that she will be the one taking care of him. Diane gets upset. She sits down and starts crying.
Adam goes to his first chemo appointment. His doctor is Anna Kendrick as Katherine McKay. Because she is only 24, he feels the need to make jokes about that. He also makes a Doogie Howser M.D. joke, too. He is talking about his shock, and being fine. She is trying to get him to do some techniques.
Adam is now at home and Rachael has brought home a dog. He isn’t taking it too well. Kyle is now out with a girl, pretending to be upset so he can have sex with her. Now all his work friends are asking about the cancer Adam has. His boss hugs him. Adam is now awaiting chemo, he gets in an elevator with a nurse. He is sitting down next to Philip Baker Hall as Alan, and Matt Frewer as Mitch. Alan offers Adam some hash cookie. Mitch and Alan are talking to Adam about losing their hair and old balls. Adam is really high while walking through the corridors. He gets home and spews in the toilet. A lot.
He is now at his doctors meeting. She is seeing how he is after chemo. Adam is kind of freaking out. He is telling the doctor that he needs to calm down. She offers him to go and check out some books. Kyle and Adam are in his bathroom about to shave his head. Kyle makes a joke about shaving his body previously. Adam shaves off his hair completely. Kyle helps him. Adam is now in the chemo waiting area with Alan and Mitch. They ask why haven’t they met the Rachael yet. Cut to Adam outside with Alan and Mitch. Rachael turns up late. She apologizes.
Kyle and Adam are at the local library. They’re looking through books. Kyle asks the librarian if she can help find some cancer books. She is slightly upset, and he is trying to score with her. He scored a date with her. At home Adam is ignoring his mothers calls. He does answer but doesn’t feel like talking to her. She offers to make food but he doesn’t want it. Kyle is at an art gallery with the librarian. He is pretending to like them. He sees Rachael kissing some other guy. So he takes a photo of her without her knowing.
Rachael comes back home and wakes up Adam. Kyle walks in right after he. He talks about his date with the librarian, Claire. He shows Adam the photo of Rachael kissing the other guy. Rachael is talking to Adam, trying to make excuses for herself. Kyle tries to kick her out. She cries and walks out. The next morning Kyle and Adam are walking down the street with the dog. Another dog owner comes slog. They walk off and Adam says he looks like Voldemort. Kyle is talking about using Adams cancer as a way for sex. They’re now at a club. Kyle is trying to get him to tells girls he has cancer. Adam walks up to a girl. He tells her, and she walks away. Kyle and Adam talk to 2 girls. at a table Adam tells the girls he has cancer, they’re so interested. She touches Adam’s head.
They get the girls to come over for some weed. They’re having sex at Adam’s. She stops because Adam’s back is hurting. The next morning: Kyle is sitting naked in the lounge room watching movies. Adam is waiting for the bus. Katherine notices him. She offers him a lift. He takes it. They get to Adam’s house. She writes down her number and gives it to him.
The next day: Kyle and Adam are getting stoned in the lounge room watching shark week. Rachael walks in. He tells her that her stuff are in a box outside. Adam and Rachael walk outside. She says that she is really sorry. He tells her that he hates her. They hug. She doesn’t want to go. He tells her to get the fuck off. She picks up her bag, and walks out. – later: Kyle and Adam are chucking eggs, knifes and hammers at her painting. Totally destroying it. Lighting it on fire, also. Kyle, Adam, Alan and Mitch are talking about radio while getting stoned and drinking. They’re all joking around.
Adam talks to Katherine about how much he finds his mother annoying. Katherine makes it out like he is a dick for not wanting to talk to his mother. Adam is at chemo with Alan. Mitch died last night. Adam gets upset. Alan doesn’t want to talk about it. Alan, Adam and Kyle are at Mitch’s funeral. Adam is now at home watching the Colbert Report and other news shows while getting stoned. Adam is now back at his appointment with Katherine. He is talking about dying because Mitch died. He is somewhat giving up. He gets upset and walks out, Katherine cries. Adam is at home. He calls his mother.
Next day: Adam is at his major appointment with his mother and father. He gets in an argument with his mother. They talk about how his mother has been going to cancer support groups for parents who are dealing with their kids cancer, they hug each other. The doctor walks in. He tells Adam the tumor isn’t responding to the chemo, and they need to operate. Otherwise he will die, but If they can’t get rid of it. He will die. Back at a park, Adam and Kyle are drinking and talking about the past. Adam asks Kyle if he can drive before he dies. He let’s him even though he doesn’t have a license. He drives badly. Dodging cars. Kyle hits the breaks. Adam kicks Kyle out of the car. Adam freaks out, and calls Katherine. And they resolve their issues. Kyle and Adam walk home. Adam sees Kyle has an understanding cancer in his room. The next day: Adam is feeding the dog. He walks outside and Kyle is waiting for him in the car. They drive to the hospital for his operation. At the hospital: Kyle and Adam hug. Inside: the doctors are talking to Adam. He tells his dad he loves him. Adam cries. They have him unconscious as he goes to surgery. He has the surgery.
After the surgery. Katherine tells Kyle and Adam’s parents that Adam is going to be fine. The doctor comes out. She tells them be is fine! Everyone is hugging. The go to Adam’s room. And check on him. Later that night: Katherine walks in and checks on Adam. They joke about morphine, and share a moment. Back at home. Kyle has to moisturises Adam’s back, and put on the bandage. Katherine is waiting outside for their date. She walks in, and her and Kyle share a joke. It’s The only Girlfriend he likes. Adam and Katherine smile as the movie ends.
50/50 was a really enjoyable movie. I liked it a lot, and as a fan of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, i enjoyed it even more. Especially since those two guys were producing it. The story was well done, and if Funny People went this way with their cancer/drama/comedy movie, i really think that movie would have been much better, too. And don’t get me wrong. It was great. And this movie was great, too. And, funny enough, it hasn’t even been released in Australia yet. I got sick of waiting. However, it does get released March, 2012. This is a solid movie, and it deserves 4/5.
SOURCES:
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