The new comedy-drama 50/50 centers around a cancerous presence, and that refers to Seth Rogen as much as it does to the malignant tumor found located on the spine of young Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Carve Rogen out of the picture, and its chances of being a truly moving film about people coping in sickness and in health increase exponentially.
This is nothing personal about Rogen, who I generally enjoy watching — heck, I didn’t even mind him bringing his slobbery man-boy act to the iconic role of the Green Hornet. But 50/50, inspired by scripter Will Reiser’s own battle with cancer, doesn’t need his services, which only get in the way of a potentially heart-rending story about how a 20-something who theoretically has his whole life ahead of him must cope with a tragedy that threatens to cheat him out of his future. Gordon-Levitt delivers a sensitive portrayal as Adam, perpetually trying to get a grasp on emotions that understandably don’t know where to go. Adam shares an interesting relationship with his therapist (Up in the Air Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick), a medical newbie who isn’t quite certain how to comfort her patient. He has trouble with his girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), who’s mentally ill-equipped to deal with a partner who’s now bald and barfing all over the place. He bonds with two older cancer patients (Matt Frewer and national treasure Philip Baker Hall) who take him under their wing. And he has difficulties communicating with his mother (Anjelica Huston), a drama queen who’s already dealing with an Alzheimer’s-afflicted husband (Serge Houde).
These are all intriguing relationships, but every time we become immersed in these particular character dynamics, along comes Rogen as Adam’s unlikely best friend Kyle. Kyle clearly has Adam’s back, and had Rogen, in his capacity as one of the film’s producers, graciously allowed another actor to play the role, we might have had something special. But the film’s delicate mood is broken anytime Kyle opens his mouth to talk about shaving his balls or getting laid or basically anything that trumpets his obnoxiousness. 50/50 is a good movie about 60% of the time, but a higher percentage would have been appreciated.
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2011.
Absolutely right on. The only thing I can imagine is that the writer has a friend just like Kyle. But it doesn’t change the fact that Rogan’s character unnecessarily pulls down an otherwise good film.
You do realize that Seth Rogen is actually playing himself. He is the writer’s actual best friend who helped him through his cancer battle. If you want real, then this is it. He is literally playing himself. Funny, maybe you could use “the google” and research the actual story behind the movie before you write a review.
Rogan WAS THE ACTUAL ROOMMATE! He is playing himself. You want somebody else to come in and play a toned-down Seth Rogan? Please. Somebody just didn’t do their research. Not to mention it would have been a fairly standard and predictable (albeit well-acted) movie without that relationship.
Thanks for writing, guys. Yes, of course the role is based on Rogen himself (this isn’t exactly breaking news), but you seem to have “based on fact” confused with “actual documentary.” You’re gonna tell me every single scene was ripped from reality and none of it was artistic license? Besides, Rogen can be quite charming and appealing off-screen; Kyle was basically just a caricature of the sort of obnoxious doofus that populates every standard and predictable comedy these days (hardly a cinematic original), and I maintain that he throws this movie off its rhythm.
Cheers!