"50/50" Delivers 100%

At an early screening of "50/50," I went into the theater with no idea of the film's plot other than the fact that Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character has cancer, and Seth Rogen is his best friend.  This information seemed promising enough, but certainly did not serve as grounds for what to expect from such an unusual pair.  What came across as an odd duo soon made a lot of sense when, prior to the opening credits, the writer and director addressed the audience, and the former introduced himself as Will Reiser, Seth Rogen's real-life best friend.  He told the attendants about how he was diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer, and after a quick Internet search, Reiser discovered that he had a 50/50 chance of making it through this tragic experience.  Obviously he survived the disease and wrote a movie about it, but knowing these details does not prevent the emotional roller coaster ride that comes with this remarkable film full of outrageous laughs and steady flowing tears.
JGL's character, Adam, almost immediately finds out about his spinal cancer, but even with this devastating news he manages to keep a sense of humor thanks to his bud Kyle, played by Seth Rogen.  One may think that this was an easy role for Rogen since he is playing himself in a situation that he actually lived through, but Rogen brings depth to a character that at first appears as nothing more than an equivalent to his part in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.  Gordon-Levitt further proves his ability to lead in a movie as he did in 500 Days of Summer by showcasing a wide range of emotions, from frequent sorrow and anger, to hysterical laughter after smoking weed with some elder cancer patients, and even a powerful panic attack that pains the audience.
With exceptional performances from the supporting cast, including a damaged and somewhat cruel Bryce Dallas Howard as Adam's girlfriend, a frantic and worked-up Anjelica Huston who plays Adam's mother also dealing with her husband's dementia, and a helpful Anna Kendrick as a new therapist, 50/50 is truly captivating.  Jonathan Levine, the director of The Wackness, shows that he is on his way towards bigger things after his phenomenal sophomore film.  Seth Rogen and his buddy Evan Goldberg also prove that they can produce films outside the realm of raunchy titles such as Knocked Up and Superbad.
To see their best acting to date, check out Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen in 50/50 in late September.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll call your mother once you exit the theater.