“What’s Your Number?” is not what you would call a “good movie.”

Does it have any redeeming values?  Yes, but just a few.

For women, you get multiple shots of Chris “Captain America” Evans with his shirt off—even some with his pants off, too!  Also, Anna Faris is cute and likable.  The movie contains one exceptionally hilarious sight gag, but I will not be a spoiler and share anything about it.  Wedding scenes are a romantic comedy staple and the wedding in “What’s Your Number” is a good one.

The story:  Faris is a 30ish single woman.  She reads in Marie Claire that the average woman has slept with 10.5 guys.  She totes up her own number and finds it much higher than 10.5 and higher than those of some other women she asks.  Noting that her sister’s fiancée has improved with age, Faris decides to stop at 20 and choose Mr. Right from among her former lovers.  Goofy logic, yes, but without this decision, we wouldn’t have a movie.

She engages a hunky neighbor (Evans), who comes from a family of cops, to help track down her past hookups.  You might guess what transpires.

If romantic comedies are your absolute very favorite type of movie, there is a slight chance you might like this one.  Even then, you might want to just wait till March and grab it at Redbox.

Cancer is serious business.

Heavy.  Cruel.  Vicious.  When the patient is a young person, the prospect of cancer seems even worse.  But most people with cancer, and their friends and families, are capable of enjoying moments of happiness and laughter.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings the full sad-to-happy spectrum of emotions in his excellent portrayal of a 27-year-old with a tumor on his spine.

This movie’s title “50/50” refers to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character’s chance of surviving his cancer.  It is also the approximate ratio of grim content to light content in the film.

Seth Rogen, as Gordon-Levitt’s best friend, provides the movie’s biggest laughs, many coming from his crude sexual advice.  Gordon-Levitt’s reaction to the pot-laced baked goods he consumes during chemotherapy scores some hearty chuckles as well. The funny business in “50/50” is more than just comic relief, it’s a major part of the movie.

Anna Kendrick plays Gordon-Levitt’s rookie therapist whose counsel he regards lightly during early visits.  Her suggestions are met with relative indifference, but she keeps plugging away.  Kendrick delivers a strong performance.  Angelica Huston plays Gordon-Levitt’s mom and Bryce Dallas Howard is Gordon-Levitt’s girlfriend.

Should a person going through cancer treatment see this movie?  If she or he has a good sense of humor and is not in great pain, the answer is yes.  If she or he is depressed and/or physically uncomfortable, stay away.  For the cancer-free public, your feelings about this movie will, I think, parallel your general feelings about Seth Rogen.

“50/50” is rated R for raunchy.

Where have you gone, Scott Hatteberg?

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy “MONEYBALL.”  If you are a baseball fan, you should appreciate this semi-accurate story of the Oakland A’s and their low budget division winners.

The movie is better than the book.  The book was ostensibly factual reporting.   The movie, thanks to talented screenwriters, takes many liberties with those facts and adds in some good laughs.

Brad Pitt stars as real life Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane.  He gives Beane emotional depth, to go with his seemingly reckless personnel moves.  His relationship with his non-custodial daughter adds a sweet note to his character.

Jonah Hill continues to improve his acting with each role.  He plays Beane’s designated number cruncher whose input leads the A’s to sign washed-up catcher Scott Hatteberg and convert him into a first baseman.  (Guess which player hits the home run that keeps a 20-game win streak alive?)

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was an odd choice to play the A’s manager.  He’s immensely talented, but not well suited for this role.  Other than this miscasting, the film’s only significant flaw is its run time—a bit too long.

“MONEYBALL” will fuel more off-season discussion about who can best judge baseball talent—an old-fashioned scout or a laptop-toting stats analyst?  The movie is also likely to stir debate when it’s time to pick nominees for filmmaking awards.  Best movie?  Best actor?  I’d say “yes” and “maybe.”