Thursday, September 11, 2014

Life at 50/50

On most days off, I like to cuddle with our dogs and stream movies online. I often go for the light, feel-good genre. That's how I came across the 2011 film, 50/50. It's actually a comedy-drama loosely based on a true story.

27-year-old Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lives life on the safe side. He doesn't smoke, drink, do drugs and, because car accidents are one of the leading causes of death, drive. Yet lo and behold, after going to the doctor because of persistent back pain, he learned that he has cancer and a 50/50 chance of survival.

His struggle begins by breaking the news to his goofy best friend Kyle (Seth Rogens), artist girlfriend, and overprotective parents. He also doubtfully sees Katherine played by Anna Kendrick (Love her!), an inexperienced PhD candidate, for therapy to help voice out his issues and feelings about his condition. 
"You can't change your situation. The only thing that you can change is how you choose to deal with it."
The movie is very realistic, showing the inimitable glum of battling the big C but also finding humor in it. It has brought me equal parts of tears and laughter - a weird but amazing combination. I'm yearning for more films like this. Funny, heart-pinching, and inspiring.

-Martha

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