The Apatow cool group take on cancer, with results that are warm and funny, as befitting something based on a true story - the screenwriter's. Since he went on to write a movie you can guess it has a happy ending (although apparently originally the character based on him was going to die) but it still has an honesty you only get from personal experience: people who he tells making the news all about then; the strains it puts on a bad relationship; a friend trying to use it to pick up chicks; unexpected perks (e.g. being able to buy marijuana, instant sympathy).
Occasionally it falls into cliche - once his patient friend introduces his wife you know she's going to be a dead duck - but it's full of warmth and humour and very good acting. It's also well structured - the makers of Not Suitable Children ought to take note. I'm not convinced Joseph Gordon Levitt is a film star, he's too introverted and passive, but he is a good actor, and Seth Gordon is a delight as his friend.
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