Rated D - 50/50

Rated D... Odds are, you're gonna like it!

See? It's a play on the title. It's something new I'm doing.... er... anyway....

Welcome back to Rated D!

A few weeks ago, Erika and I went to see a movie called 50/50. SPOILER ALERT: A young man faces cancer with the aid of his comical best friend and inexperienced therapist.

The word "dramady" is probably what best describes this film. It's a comedy in an unlikely place, but believe it or not it works. Imagine trying to tell someone the story: I got an idea for a comedy.... okay let's hear it!... let's take a young guy who's shy and polite... yeah, yeah!... and give him.... what?! a sloppy roommate? a big drooling dog? a crazy eccentric boss?... No, spinal cancer!.... Yes, haha, wait, what, oh i get it, wait, huh?... Well that's the story here of 50/50 and amazingly enough, it's a true story. The story follows quiet, naive Adam played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (10 Things I Hate About You, 3rd Rock From the Sun) and his struggle with being diagnosed with cancer. With the aid of his best friend Kyle played by Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, The Green Hornet), Adam tries to stay calm and laugh through his illness. It's a fascinating look and original vision of something that unfortunately happens all too often. From his chemo treatment to attempting to use his "situation" to pick up women, we see intimate details of a normal person in an abnormal situation. This is where the movie succeeds the most. He's just a normal guy with normal family issues, normal girlfriend problems, and a normal friend who instead of weeping for him, makes him laugh, encourages him to go out, and treats him... well, normally. There are great performances all around by the whole cast including one of my favorite young actresses, Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, The Twilight Saga) who plays his new to the job therapist. Their scenes together and chemistry at times is hilarious and at other times heartbreaking, but, after all, that's what makes truly great comedy.

To Tie It Back to Health & Fitness...
Some say laughter is the best medicine... clearly there are some better ones out there, but laughter is the most accessible and cheapest for sure! Proving that laughter is good for you is hard but some studies have been done in an attempt to prove that laughing is an easy way to burn calories, lower blood suger levels in diabetics, and temporarilly relax muscles and ease pain. Either way, laugh more. Simple as that. If it's not simple, read the first line of this blog or feel free to read all of my previous blogs. You're welcome.

"That doesn't make any sense though. I don't smoke, I don't drink... I recycle." - Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam

Technically Speaking...
A lot of people say that there are no new ideas left. I don't think that's true, but evenso, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. 50/50 is a great story and though it's based on a true story, it could've easily been a complete work of fiction. The way the story is told, including its realistic dialogue, is enjoyable and believable. Seth Rogen tones down his usual intense brand of insult driven comedy and transforms into a real person on the screen.

REVIEW - I give it 4 Medicinal Marijuana cards out of 5

A LIST OF FIVES.... This week's list: Comedians Gone Serious!
1. Philadelphia (Tom Hanks) - A young gay lawyer with AIDS sues his employers when he feels he was dismissed because of his lifestyle. It's easy to forget that this is the same guy who starred in Bosom Buddies, The Money Pit, and Splash...
2. Ray (Jamie Foxx) -The Ray Charles musical-biopic based on the blind pianists life and struggle with drugs, racism, and the women in his life. It's easy to forget his painfully annoying character of Wanda Wayne from In Living Color...
3. Stranger Than Fiction (Will Ferrell) - An IRS agent finds that he is the main character in a novel by an author, notorious for killing off her main characters. It's easy to forget the American flag short shorts on SNL or the streaking to the quad in Old School. (unfortunately it's not easy to forget Kicking and Screaming, Blades of Glory, and Semi-Pro)
4. Insomnia (Robin Williams) - A troubled police officer journeys to Alaska to assist in a murder investigation where he meets a dangerous mystery writer. It's easy to forget Mork from Ork or maybe every unstoppable impression rant that occurs in his comedies....
5. Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind (Jim Carrey) - An amazing romantic movie (from one of my favorite writers, Charlie Kaufman) about a man who decides to get over his ex by erasing her from his memories. It's easy to forget ::deep breath:: Fire Marshall Bill, being birthed by a rhino, talking out of his butt, Alrighty Then, My name is Cuban Pete, Chicaga, "3 darts is just too much", Green jumpsuit covered in question marks, "I'm kicking my ass! Do ya' mind?!" and so on...

Still Haven't Seen It?
500 Days of Summer - I had heard the hype about this one for a long time but didn't really care for "Summer" played by Zooey Deschanel (Fox's The New Girl, Yes Man). This one turned out to be pretty great. It's a story about love and loss and the analysis of a realtionship gone by. Funny and sweet.

Next Time on Rated D -
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn followed by the worst words that could be attached to this title... Part 1...

Gorilla Man