21
Aug
(500) Days of Summer
Was lucky to go to a screening of this while up in New York thanks to my sister. In case you don’t know, yeah I’m a big Zooey fan so sue me. Ever since Elf, blah blah blah. Anyway wasn’t really sure what to expect from the movie when I first saw it. Heard a little here and there, but nothing major. All I know was as the trailer said, “This is not a love story. It’s a story about love.” So as I was sitting in the theater I was pretty much shaking with anticipation.
First thing that stood out in the movie was how it was told. It didn’t progress in a linear fashion. It pretty much skipped around to various big moments in Tom and Summer’s relationship. For example, it’d go from their first meeting to them arguing to Tom sulking to their first kiss, etc. While you’d think that it would be confusing, it actually isn’t thanks to clever storytelling. Second thing that I loved was how funny it actually was. Most romantic comedies these days rely on embarrassment humor. Toss the male lead into a weird situation and see how he reacts. Hilarity ensues! This one actually had some genuine humor which was awesome. My favorite part involved a Tom’s reaction from their first night together. I must say, best Harrison Ford cameo EVER. Thirdly was how relatable the movie was. All of the various stages Tom went through will probably remind you of one of your past experiences. It just feels so good to watch a movie about a relationship that isn’t perfect ’cause life just isn’t. Lastly the acting. The relationship between Tom and Summer feels so genuine. Most romantic comedies have an odd stiffness about them, but 500 didn’t. Zooey had the charm and Jason played the love struck guy wonderfully. I really hope to see this pair together in a future movie.
So yeah I pretty much adored this movie. I’d say it’s in my top 2 of romantic comedies; right up there with 10 Things I Hate About You (oddly enough also starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Definite must see for EVERYONE. Can’t wait till it comes out on DVD/Blu-ray so I can make it my new monthly watch.
