Solid “50/50” Can’t Quite Blossom Into What Its Potential Pointed To

Occasionally, you come across a movie that earns accolades based mostly on its willingness to take on a difficult subject. I thought “50/50” sort of fit into that category, though it was worthy of some of its acclaim and certainly was a brave glimpse into cancer (I would say it was a more accurate depiction than, say, “The Big C,” for instance).

In the lead role as Adam, a drifting 20-something dealing with the lightning strike of cancer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt shows just how much he’s matured since his days on “Third Rock from the Sun.” Seth Rogan has his moments as Adam’s best friend Kyle, but he falls short of the oh-so-difficult cross-over from comedy to drama of which he appears to be striving.

The stunning Bryce Dallas Howard is effective as Adam’s off-and-on girlfriend, who realistically behaves erratically as she attempts to come to terms with what Adam’s diagnosis truly means. I also thought Anjelica Houston did a nice job portraying a mother in a really tough spot, trying to deal both physically and emotionally with a husband suffering from Alzheimer’s and an uncommunicative son with cancer.

But the true scene-stealing moments come from Philip Baker Hall, who shines as Alan, who is Adam’s quasi-mentor and co-chemotherapy mate. The gruff Hall has had a rough year, having kicked it on both “Modern Family” and “50/50,” but his performance here emanates with the emotions and challenges that you wish the movie itself shared.

This flick wasn’t without a really good cast and a strong soundtrack, and it even displayed some effective metaphors (the volcano, the radio). However, I couldn’t help but take issue with Adam finding the book about cancer in Kyle’s bathroom. I just found it too predictable and felt it gave Adam too easy of an out after he spent most of the movie being self-absorbed and borderline manipulative toward Adam’s condition.

I also felt that Adam’s fear of driving was completely glossed over; whether it was symptomatic of his neuroticism or a symbol of his overall fear of life, it just wasn’t explained or handled well enough.

So while I think “50/50” was good, I also thought it was missing an indefinable something that may have elevated its resonance. It did a fine job of embracing a hard topic, but I found myself feeling as if it narrowly missed what it might have truly been.