It takes a pair to beat the odds|Sep. 30, 2011|United States|100 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Drama
Description: “50/50” (2011) tells the story of Adam Lerner, a 27-year-old public radio journalist in Seattle. He lives with his girlfriend Rachael, an artist, though his best friend and co-worker Kyle disapproves of their relationship. While Kyle is brash and outspoken, Adam is quiet and reserved. After experiencing severe back pain, Adam is diagnosed with schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma, a rare spinal tumor, and begins chemotherapy. Upon researching his diagnosis, he learns the survival rate is 50/50.
Adam’s mother, Diane, who cares for her Alzheimer’s-stricken husband, Richard, offers to help him, but he declines, as Rachael has already promised to support him. During his treatments, Adam befriends two older cancer patients, Mitch and Alan. Rachael, however, struggles to cope with his illness, becoming distant and even gifting him a retired racing greyhound named Skeletor. Kyle, on the other hand, tries to keep Adam’s spirits up, even using his condition to meet women.
When Kyle discovers Rachael cheating on Adam, he confronts her and forces her to confess, leading to their breakup. Following Kyle’s advice, Adam uses his illness to connect with women at a bar. Meanwhile, Adam begins therapy with Katherine McKay, a young and inexperienced therapist working on her PhD. Despite their rocky start, they develop a deeper connection, blurring professional boundaries. Katherine helps Adam understand the emotional toll his illness takes on his loved ones, particularly his mother, repairing their strained relationship. The film explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the complexities of facing life-altering challenges.
Cast director: Jonathan Levine
Cast actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Philip Baker Hall, Serge Houde, Andrew Airlie, Matt Frewer, Peter Kelamis, Jessica Parker Kennedy
Original name: 50/50