50/50

In the past year, I've reviewed "Love and Other Drugs" and "It's Kind of a Funny Story" in this space. Those movies failed because they couldn't decide what they wanted to be. They mixed comedy and drama without ever committing to one. And while it's fine to have a funny drama or a dramatic comedy, in the end you can't fit into both genres. A movie's message can't be both funny and in earnest.

"50/50" succeeds because it does commit. While it is famously a funny movie about cancer, as the movie builds to its climax it assumes a gravity that comedies cannot. It refuses to shy away from its tragic subject matter.

"50/50" centers on Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who learns he has a rare form of cancer at 26. But it's really about the people around Adam, and how they fail him. His best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) makes so many jokes about the situation that it's hard to tell if he really grasps it. His girlfriend Racheal (Bryce Dallas Howard) is totally unequipped to handle his care. His mother (Anjelica Huston) worries so much that she makes things worse.

"50/50" isn't about the jokes. It isn't even really about cancer. It's about the challenge of helping someone through a crisis. Too often, we give victims what we think they want instead of listening to what they need. This makes us feel better rather than those we intend to aid.

The movie has its share of flaws. "50/50" follows the irritating Hollywood trend of using pop songs to score its most serious moments. These songs--particularly because of their lyrics--add a lot of unearned sentiment that a film can drown in. When Adam learns he has cancer, it's a powerful moment. When Radiohead's "High and Dry" kicks in immediately after, it becomes too powerful.

For a good movie, "50/50" also has a lot of issues with its characters. Seth Rogen is on notice--he needs to develop some more tools. His cuddly frat boy schtick is starting to get old. In addition, Adam is a bit thin as a character. Screenwriter and real-life cancer survivor Will Reiser is much better at depicting the flaws of friends and family than at examining the character based on himself. Meanwhile, Rachael is rather unnecessarily portrayed as being heartless.

But none of that can obscure the fact that "50/50" has its heart and head in the right place. It delivers an important message that a truly comic take on cancer couldn't deliver.