50/50

A young man (Joseph Gordon-Levit) struggles with his cancer diagnosis, friends, and family in this very funny look at a very serious subject. Gordon-Levit is absolutely perfect for the part and will move you to tears and laughter. He is surrounded by a top-notched cast including Seth Rogen, Anna Hendricks, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anjelica Houston. The ladies all shine and Rogen is his usual vulgar funny self. It is a powerful and touching story showing everything you wanted to know about the cancer experience but were afraid to ask. The clever script manages to effectively slip in its little jokes time and time again as it walks a fine line between tragedy and comedy. Just like with the disease, this film needs a sense of humor to get through it. Will this cancer patient survive? Well, his odds are 50/50. This movie is a must see if you want to understand more about dealing with the Big C, but it does not open until late September.

Alien gives it 3 "medicinal marijuana" stars out of 4.