Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures
(500) Days of Summer
At first glance, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel) seem like the perfect pair. They both love The Smiths and Bruce Springsteen, share an indie sensibility and are content wandering IKEA. The problem? Tom's a hopelessly romantic greeting card writer, and Summer is a relationship cynic who wants anything but to end up like her divorced parents. As Tom's much younger, much wiser sister points out, "Just because she likes the same bizarro crap you do doesn't mean she's your soul mate."
From the start, audiences are warned this film is not a love story, but it's hard to tear ourselves away from the 500-day roller coaster that is Tom and Summer's relationship. As Tom realizes loving Summer can't make her love him back, Summer learns it's possible to share a life with someone else—even if it's not Mr. Right Now.
This is the breakup film for anyone who's given more than they've gotten—and picked themselves up once they realize it's possible to move on.
Published 02/12/2010
