50/50 movie

scored free passes to see two of the movies' most adorable actors, joseph gordon-levitt and seth rogen, in 50/50 last night.

story: a young man who finds out he has a tumor on his spine, and for the next hour and a half, tries to work through his therapies, and his friends' and family's attempts at supporting him. also loses a girlfriend, but picks up a dog, rookie therapist, and chemo friends.

joseph gordon-levitt: plays a full range of emotions very effectively, somehow without changing his facial expressions so much. you're with him all the way, and feel like you really "get" him, even when noone else in the movie seems to. seth rogen as bromantic best friend: you know this role from rogen, and it fits. angelica huston as his mom: a little more emotional than most of her roles, and that works very well.

regarding the rookie therapist: with all the other "top-notch" surgeons and doctors surrounding the patient, i wondered why the hospital would stick him with a grad student therapist. but maybe this is the way it's done, what do i know. cute back and forth between her and him, though, which didn't wreck the movie.

by the end of the movie, you may be tearing up. or bawling. it's no brian's song, so don't worry about embarrassing yourself excessively, but do be prepared (kleenex, dark glasses). i didn't come out feeling emotionally manipulated, like i did in terms of endearment; it seemed fairly low-key, and entirely genuine.

highly recommended.