50/50

     JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT  SETH ROGEN  BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD  ANNA 
     KENDRICK  ANJELICA HUSTON

ADAM (GORDON-LEVITT) IS 27 AND HAS A RARE FORM OF SPINAL CANCER.  HIS BEST FRIEND KYLE (ROGEN) STAYS BY HIS SIDE.  RACHAEL (HOWARD) IS ADAM'S GIRLFRIEND WHO IS UNABLE TO HANDLE ALL THE PRESSURE AND ADAM'S MOTHER (HUSTON) HELPS THE BEST SHE CAN, BUT IRKS ADAM MORE THAN ANYTHING.  ADAM DOES GET A LITTLE SOLACE IN TALKING TO HIS THERAPIST (KENDRICK), BUT SHE IS STILL IN TRAINING AND HE IS ONLY HER THIRD PATIENT.
THIS IS NOT A COMEDY.  IT IS A DRAMA WITH COMEDIC MOMENTS, MOSTLY DELIVERED BY ROGEN.  I SUPPOSE IT IS THE OLD CLICHE OF THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH TRAGEDY IS THROUGH HUMOR.  AND THE HUMOR HERE SEEMS VERY REAL AND NOT JUST CONTRIVED WITHIN THE STORY TO CREATE A LAUGH.  ALSO VERY REAL IS GORDON-LEVITT'S PORTRAYAL OF ADAM: HIS CHARACTER IS VERY LOW KEY, NOT TOO MUCH OF A PARTY ANIMAL AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TO BOTHERED BY WHAT LIFE THROWS AT HIM.  WHEN HE FINDS OUT ABOUT THE CANCER, HE DOESN'T GO OFF THE PROVERBIAL DEEP END, BUT RATHER DECIDES TO FIGHT IT AND COME OUT A WINNER.  HE DISLIKES PEOPLE SHOWING HIM PITY OR SYMPATHY, BUT WOULD RATHER JUST BE TREATED AS ANYONE ELSE.  BUT THEN THERE IS A TURNING POINT AND ADAM BEGINS TO REALIZE JUST HOW SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS HIS CANCER IS, AND THAT REALIZATION IS DRIVEN HOME FOR FOR BOTH THE CHARACTERS AND VIEWERS DURING THE LAST THIRTY MINUTES.  
THIS IS TRULY AN INCREDIBLE FILM: THE WRITING, DIRECTING AND ACTING ARE ALL TOP NOTCH.  THEY TREAT CANCER WITH THE RESPECT IT DESERVES, BUT MAKE FUN OF ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT, AND IN THE END HAVE CREATED A NOT TO BE MISSED FILM.
RATING  4.5 OUT 5