Tom meets summer for the first time in an office meeting. He knows immediately that they were meant to be together. After a few awkward days they are finally going out, but love is never that simple.
500 days of Summer tells a love story in a unique but honest way, jumping between different memorable events in the relationship. It’s a glimpse into the world of love, both falling in and out of it. And most importantly it’s very real.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are brilliant together. Their chemistry is electrifying, making their performances alone worth the admission price. The cast complement each other with great comedic timing and a napoleon dynamite esque humour.
Despite the moving forward and backward in the relationship, the storyline is easy to follow. In fact, the moving around in time creates an additional interest in the subjects. This can only be attributed to a brilliant script and excellent execution by the director. What many movies have tried to do with time jumping, 500 days of Summer pulls off flawlessly.
Hands down, this is the best boy meets girl movie I’ve seen this year. It has the comedy, romance, quirkiness and spunk to reach all age groups and whisk them away. This is the perfect date movie.
9/10
Synopsis
Fans of HIGH FIDELITY and ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND will be charmed by this quirky film that sheds a linear plot in favor of a memory-driven look at a failed romance. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (BRICK) stars as Tom, a greeting-card writer who dreams of becoming an architect and finding his true love. Zooey Deschanel (THE HAPPENING) plays Summer, a vintage-looking beauty whose ideas about love are entirely modern. As Tom remembers his 500 days with Summer, his mind jumps from moment to moment, largely thinking of the good times in their trouble-filled relationship. Indie darlings Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are perfectly cast in this sweet, funny film that infuses the typical romantic tropes with reality. Anyone else would have caused audiences to hate Summer, but Deschanel is adorable enough that she still endears herself to viewers. Arthouse favorite Gordon-Levitt hasn’t played a traditional romantic lead since 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU in 1999, but here he proves equally adept at portraying Tom’s sweetness and his neuroses. Music-video director Marc Webb makes his feature debut with (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, and it’s easy to see influences of his past work. The soundtrack boasts songs from Regina Spektor, Doves, Feist, Wolfmother, and, of course, The Smiths, the band that brings the couple together. Webb also adds an innovative style to the dramedy, combining a naturalistic look at love with a non-linear plot, animated vignettes, and a triumphant musical sequence. The film’s mixture of cynicism and romance makes it perfect viewing for happy couples, the recently dumped, and the hopeful singles in the audience.
Release Date
Dec 04, 2009 (SA) / Jul 17, 2009 (USA)
Cast
Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly, Matthew Gray Gubler, Rachel Boston, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz
Age Restriction
13ML
Director
Marc Webb
Producers
Mark Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, Mason Novick, Steven J. Wolfe
