newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

MOVIE REVIEW

Dogged work by Joseph Gordon-Levitt improves the outlook for Seth Rogen's latest bromance from "50/50" to something more like 70/30.

With Gordon-Levitt providing the emotional colors as leading man Adam, Rogen slips comfortably into his usual position as schlubby second banana Kyle. But this time, male bonding finds itself in a challenging three-way, with cancer the other player.

For once, Rogen has an excuse for playing himself. The story originated in his pal Will Reiser's experience being diagnosed with cancer while in his 20s. Rogen was one of the friends who urged Reiser to turn that into this script.

The kind of anal straight-arrow who waits for the light to change before jogging across an empty street, mild-mannered Adam works for Seattle public radio and has just cleared out a drawer for artist girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard).

In one of several well-rendered scenes, Adam gets shocking news in brusque fashion. He has gotten tests for recurring back pain and is awaiting the results. His doctor walks in, sits down, pulls out an audio recorder and begins talking into about "the patient," all without making eye contact.

When Adam politely interrupts, the physician finally looks up and begins spouting impenetrable jargon designed to keep the patient in his place. Adam seeks a translation, and the healer finally delivers the bad news: Adam has a rare form of cancer. If he feels the need to speak to someone, the Doc says, the hospital has therapists to handle that sort of thing.

That leads Adam to young therapist Katherine, still working on her degree and feeling her way into the profession. Fortunately, she is played by Anna Kendrick, who was wonderful as a similar novice in the ill-conceived "Up in the Air."

Here, Kendrick is merely asked to repeat that performance, but manages to find some fresh notes. She highlights a strong cast, which also features Anjelica Huston as incommunicative Adam's worried mother, plus Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer as older chemotherapy patients.

Howard also has a strong turn as the initially supportive Rachael. She steps up to help, but can't sustain the stance as treatment takes a toll on Adam. The script offers little sympathy for her effort. Even in bromantic dramedy, many women are disposable obstacles or targets of opportunity.