Wait for it...another post about Cancer! Ok, it's also a review of "50/50"

So I finally went and saw 50/50 at the second run theater with my sister. Basic plot for those who don't know- it was written by a guy (who's now a producer/director/Hollywood type) who was diagnosed with cancer in his late 20's. Really bad, there's a pretty good chance you'll die cancer. The reviews and articles I'd read about it intrigued me because they talked about what a realistic treatment it gave to cancer. It provided a balance between the usual stereotypes of either super sick and frail and Lance Armstrong triumph over adversity. I don't know if I would have been affected differently or at all if I hadn't recently lost extended family members to cancer...or work with it every day (while abstractly, it's there and I realize it).

It was nice to see a movie show a character with cancer who goes through many emotions. You can be mad and scared and angry and calm all at the same time. And you don't need to have these life changing epiphanies. I was very pleasantly surprised at Seth Rogen's character, which was partly based on him in real life. The writer/main character has actually been a long time friend of Seth Rogen's and Rogen was there throughout the cancer journey. While he did have moments as that Seth Rogen archetype that we love to laugh at, there were also very poignant moments of him just trying to be a good friend and not be scared of his friend dying. Somehow there were moments in the movie where I cried and then a minute later found myself laughing. But that's how it should be.

Dealing with these sorts of situations is never easy. Maybe it just hit a little close to home for me, I'm not sure. But when the main character was having an important surgery, I was definitely choked up, very much reminded of my own feelings in similar situations- it's hard to send someone away to a life saving surgery that might kill them.

But I think even if you don't know anyone with cancer, this film is a great tool- because someday you will be touched by cancer and it's never easy to deal with. Trying to keep a semblance of normal and the upkeep of those important relationships- that's what this movie excels at.