This is one real, sincere and a little gem of a movie. It is quite lovely, actually bordering on brilliant. I have seen better movies and I’m sure you have too. I am just not sure I have seen any better in the whole romance/comedy genre though. I think most people have been in the places of both of the leading characters- Tom and Summer.
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM[/pro-player]
Tom (Joseph Gordon- Levitt) is a young man working at a greeting cards company. When Summer (Zooey Deschanel) starts to work at the same office, he can’t believe his luck. She is beautiful, fun and seems to share his taste in music. There is one problem: Summer is a cynic who doesn’t believe in love and doesn’t want a serious relationship. So Tom only has one choice really. As much as he’s falling for Summer, he pretends he is OK with the casual relationship they are having. The movie adds a half-serious/half-amusing documentary approach to the background as the story takes a look at Tom’s 500 days spent either with Summer or thinking about her. The days are not shown in order and we just join the emotional rollercoaster Tom has got on.
The movie provides all the bittersweet reality of falling in love, the great days when we think the other person feels the same and the other days when we simply feel all alone in the relationship. This is of course Tom’s point of view. I once fell for a boy who didn’t love me back yet I was certain we were such a good match. As Tom’s terribly smart and mature younger sister points out, just because the other person likes the same stuff with us, it doesn’t mean they are your soul mates. Attraction and love may not be mutual or even if there is chemistry, it doesn’t mean the other person fells the same way about you. But then again, I understand Summer too. I have been Summer, meaning where I was the one who didn’t want a relationship, where I wanted to keep things casual. That is what makes this movie so good to watch. The characters are us. We have been them or met them at some point in our lives. But the story is never slow or boring because the familiarity is always presented with a lovely sense of humor.
But as the tag line says, this is not a love story. It is a story about love. And as far as emotional and funny movies go, this is pretty well-done.
The soundtrack is lovely. The actors are totally believable and very likable. And do not consider as just a love a story. It is a great look on life,relationships and dreams. It takes a girl like Summer for Tom to start thinking about his goals again. All people that enter our lives leave some sort of mark, whether they stay on or not. This film is the perfect combination of escapism and reality.
Who doesn’t love the movie? I looove this movie. Period.
What’s not to love, right??? And Joseph is a so perfect for…well, he is perfect for any role he takes on : )
The script is very well written and characters are perfectly chosen but this kind of bittersweet symphony are always achy and makes me question whether true love that we feel deep down in our hearts is mutual… Being a guy like Tom is so much harder than it looks and sometimes Autumn does not come at all…
You know we just need more guys like Tom. The sad truth is I’m much more like Tom than Summer. When I don’t feel crazy about a guy, I never carry on a casual relationship. I either call it off as soon as I notice expectations are different or I just don’t start it at all. Relationships only work when both sides are open and hones. It was obvious how Tom felt and she let it carry on. But he wouldn’t be exactly happy if nothing started either so it was always a lose- lose situation for Tom.
You know I’ve been waiting the promised Autumn- the male version of course- for like…well, 25 years : ) It is hard for both sexes I guess. But when it comes, the story won’t resemble 500 days of summer at all. A guess it will be more a “chick flick” where both sides get what they want…