50/50 (15, 100 mins) **** Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, Philip Baker Hall, Matt Frewer, Serge Houde. Director: Jonathan Levine

Laughter is the best medicine for a 20-something man coming to terms with a rare form of cancer in this heartfelt comedy.

Loosely based on the real-life experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, who faced a cancer diagnosis aged 24 and underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his spine, 50/50 unearths moments of heartbreaking emotion amid the hilarious vulgarity.

The central character’s frustrations and terror will resonate deeply with anyone who has battled this terrible disease or nursed a loved one through chemotherapy and treatment.

The film treats the subject sensitively and candidly, but doesn’t wallow in self-pity. As the patient’s best friend helpfully proffers, “Young people beat cancer all the time... Lance Armstrong keeps getting it!”

Adam (Gordon-Levitt) works behind the scenes at Seattle Public Radio with best friend Kyle (Rogen), who makes public his dislikes for Adam’s artist girlfriend, Rachael (Howard).

A doctor’s appointment to determine the reasons for Adam’s acute back pain reveals the quietly spoken 27-year-old has a tumour that must be treated immediately.

His chances of survival are 50 per cent.

Rachael fails to offer emotional support so Kyle steps in, ferrying his pal to appointments where Adam meets fellow patients Alan (Hall) and Mitch (Frewer). Adam also encounters inexperienced psychologist Katherine McCay (Kendrick), who has been assigned to help him work through his maelstrom of emotions.

Ever the joker, Kyle tries to lift Adam’s spirits with a night on the town. “No one wants to have sex with me – I look like Voldemort!” laments the patient.

There is also the matter of telling Adam’s mother (Huston), who has her hands full caring for a husband (Houde) with Alzheimer’s.

Buoyed by the support of the people he loves and a rescue greyhound called Skeletor, Adam weathers the onslaught on his body, determined to see his 28th birthday.

50/50 stylishly melds a buddy comedy and romance with Adam’s battle against the disease, sidestepping mawkish sentiment to cut as close to the bone as possible.

Gordon-Levitt delivers a magnificent performance as a nice guy, who finds courage at his lowest ebb.

Rogen confidently pockets the big laughs but reveals his character’s heart too, and Kendrick continues her meteoric rise with a nuanced and warmly-endearing turn as the medical professional who has as much to learn as the people in her care.

As Will readies himself for the surgeon’s scalpel in the film’s closing act, director Levine delivers a series of exquisitely-judged scenes that leave us choking back tears, our hearts uplifted.