The bitter winter air finds a way to seep into Adam’s jacket. Nothing can deter him from his daily exercise as he jogs across the city of Seattle and along the lakeside. With an unbreakable gait, there is absolutely nothing that can bring down this 27-year-old picture of health. 

While crossing the street he finds himself suddenly paralyzed with a shooting pain in his back. This pain has plagued him for weeks and has stopped him dead in his tracks as he tenderly places his hands on his throbbing sides.

Days later, he finds himself in his doctor’s cold, impersonal office, awaiting the results from an MRI. Without any pretense, the doctor begins listing off the results of the tests rapidly as though reciting a grocery list. As the huge medical terms leave his lips, they buzz around Adam’s head in a whirlwind of confusion. Adam sheepishly interrupts him and asks for clarity, and the doctor stares at him blankly and explains that he has a huge malignant tumor in his spine.

On the road to recovery, Adam not only meets new friends, but sees those already in his life with a fresh perspective. He finds himself transformed by his journey in a way that opens his entire life to new opportunities and experiences. 

The comedy/drama “50/50,” directed by Jonathon Levine and written by Will Reiser, has won over the hearts of countless viewers. In fact, it has already won an Audience Reward for Audience Favorite Feature this year. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the lead role of Adam, a young man who seems to have everything to live for—a beautiful girlfriend, a job as a writer for Seattle Public Radio, a loving mother, and a best friend. When he is diagnosed with cancer and has to undergo chemotherapy, all of his relationships are severely strained. 

He does an amazing job expressing the spectrum of emotions that someone diagnosed with cancer might go through, as well as his reactions with the people in his life.

 Gordon-Levitt’s popularity peaked in 2010 along with the success of the movie “Inception,” but it seems as though his performance was less cause for his recognition than just his participation in such a major hit. With such a complex and sensitive topic, his acting takes the movie to a whole new level, rather than making it just another man-with-a-disease story. 

And playing the role of Adam’s sex-hound best friend, Kyle, is Seth Rogen. Rogen typically plays roles in comedic movies with serious topics but does not quite succeed in making them as funny as advertised; the two moods never seem to quite work together. 

However, he finally achieves a flawless harmony between his raunchy, vulgar humor and the severity of his best friend having cancer. Rogen brings his character to life through the dynamic between the two best friends and their different lifestyle. 

Overall, the movie comes together phenomenally with great actors and even greater directing. The character dynamics are spot on and they represent the struggle of not only someone diagnosed with cancer, but that of family and friends. And the wonderful quirky humor that Gordon-Levitt and Rogen bring to the film perfectly brings everything together. This movie truly is a must-see.

Post Author: Katherine Enciso. Katherine Enciso is a staff writer for The Voice. She is 17 year-old senior who is involved in choir and theatre.