CLEMENTINE'S REVIEWS

30th September 2009
(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Director:   Marc Webb
Writers:    Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Starring:   Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

For his entire life, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has been a mushy romantic. Deeply ingrained in his mentality is the concept that once he finds The One he'll be completely happy. He's working as a greeting card writer when he's introduced to a new co-worker, Summer Finn (ever lovely Zooey Deschanel). Immediately he knows she's The One for him and his infatuation quickly grows. It's an after work Karaoke session where Tom discovers that Summer doesn't believe in love, and has absolutely no interest in a boyfriend. She revels in being single, the very opposite of Tom's romantic ideology and he's taken aback. However they grow close and when Summer lets Tom know that she doesn't want something serious, he agrees, hoping that during the course of the relationship he'll change her mind.

Tom is in love with love. His unshakable belief in The One doesn't correspond with his relationship with Summer, who can't even bring herself to call them a couple. The script is very refreshing and attempts to avoid every single romantic comedy cliché and joke, instead drawing humour from humble situations which every twenty-something immediately recognises from their own dating adventures. A clever integration of screen techniques, homage to French cinema, and twee narrative are funny and sad insights into Tom's psyche.

The story is not in a linear format - it jumps between two starting points - his first meeting with Summer at work and onto their first few months together, to his despondent period right after they have an argument at day 300 and something until the 500th day.

I do wonder if l would be as receptive to this film if the genders were reversed: would a man not into serious relationships getting involved with a woman who is obsessed with love, be as interesting with the same script? Is it more interesting material because it's a romantic gent, ala 'The Wedding Singer' and Sandler's marriage-crazy Robbie. I adore everything about Joseph Gordon-Levitt: his exceptionally high standard of work, his thoughtful nature, his approach to film and acting, his expectations in the calibre of projects. His work in this film paired with the exciting script is a perfect match. So is his coupling with Zooey Deschanel, whose natural energy, whose effervescent personality infuses her role with the perfect combination of sweet quirkiness with sensitive detachment.

There are some truly wonderful bits in this film, honest moments which remind us of our failed relationships in all their glorious highs and lows.

Verdict: Refreshingly honest, revealing some romantic truths about the pursuit of love.

Read Alaris' review of (500) Days of Summer (2009).