(500) Days of Summer is not a love story. The film makes that clear within the first 60 seconds. In fact, the film isn't even that "happy." However, it may be the best "romantic comedy" to come out of Hollywood in years. Go figure.
Summer takes the romantic comedy clichés and turns them inside out. The film tells the story of Summer (Zooey Deschanel) and Tom's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) 500-day relationship out of order. For example, the story jumps from day 17 to day 254 and then back to day 97. The method makes each day, no matter how seemingly insignificant, integral to the story of infatuation, love, and rejection.
The film is a perfect telling of today's 20-something's version of love. Backed with an ideal soundtrack, highlighted by two ditties from Regina Spektor, (500) Days captures the essence of unrequited love. However, the film would have never succeeded without such strong lead performances. Deschanel, with her doe-eyed sweetness gives Summer an inherent sense of innocence while still being an independent, modern woman. Gordon-Levitt proves an equal sparring partner with Hollywood's new go-to emo girl. In fact, he's sensational. Every crease in face, every glimmer in his eye, every lip quiver speaks to his unwavering love for Summer. While he may not be 6'2" with bluging biceps, with a performance like this, Hollywood will have a hard time not casting him as a leading man.
Even though it's not a story of fairy tale love, (500) Days of Summer is a blissful experience that will hopefully show Hollywood that it is possible to make an intelligent, original romantic comedy.
Grade: A
1 comment:
Love love LOVED!! Gordon-Levitt was great (and I want everything in his wardrobe)!
Have considered going back to see this one again - certainly cannot wait 'til it's out on DVD!
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