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I think the best movies are movies that take a standard formulaic story or plot and are able to do something original with it. It seems, for example, like there are a lot of movies being made these days about heartbreak told from the male perspective, where the supposedly "standard" gender roles are reversed. It is the male character who is a hopeless romantic, who believes in true love, and is looking for his soul mate, while the female character just wants to keep things simple, and is afraid of anything smacking of too much commitment (no labels). This movie takes that somewhat standard material and does something fairly original, or at least interesting, with it.
The movie is, I guess, technically a romantic comedy, but it is not your standard romantic comedy. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with romantic comedies. I admit there are times when I have a fever that only a romantic comedy can cure, but before you judge me too harshly, you should know I can also bench press like 70 pounds...so...you know, there's that. I guess the point I am trying to make is that this movie will, I think, appeal even to those who do not ordinarily enjoy romantic comedies. It was quite funny in places, and the "love story" (I know it was not supposed to be a "love story") avoids most of the sentimentality that can be slightly nauseating in standard romantic comedies.
I enjoyed that the story was told in a non-linear way. I am not sure why exactly, but I think it made the movie much more interesting. I think one reason might be because we are all so trained by now in what to expect from a movie like this that we can see what is coming a mile away. If this movie were told in a linear way there are really only two ways it could end. SPOILER ALERT: I give away the ending here. Either the guy winds up getting the girl in the end, or, she leaves him, and he is depressed for awhile, and then decides to finally follow through with that plan he has been holding off on for so long (in this case, to become an architect), and then, after he has got his life together, he meets someone else. This movie chose the latter option obviously, but the point is, if you start this story at the beginning there are really no surprises for the viewer since they already know it can only end one of two ways. By telling the story in a non-linear way you can have lots of surprises: How did they meet? What went wrong?, etc.. I know, reading my description, you are probably thinking: "Wow! Two whole surprises!" The fact is, there were more than two surprises, but I am suffering from a failure of imagination at the moment. Normally my brain is an endless stream of brilliant insights, but it seems to have momentarily dried up. I apologize.
This review is going off the rails fast. Time to be serious. The acting in the movie was excellent. I really like Zooey Deschanel and she was perfect for this role. I also like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and I cannot resist putting in a plug here for one of his movies that I think is one of the best movies ever made. If you have not seen
Brick
do yourself a favor and watch it. It is brilliant. Back to (500) Days of Summer. The movie is quite funny. I found myself laughing throughout.
The movie also raises some interesting questions. For example, how, in the age of greeting cards, pop psychology, and romantic comedies, do we distinguish between our "real" feelings, and the way we think we are supposed to feel? How do we know that our feelings are genuine? I actually think this is a real problem in our culture. It was a good stroke having the main character work for a greeting card company since greeting cards tend to be associated with sentimentality and false emotion. Another interesting question raised by the movie, What is love? That might seem like too big of a question for a movie to deal with, and it is. One should not expect deep answers to the question from this movie. I also think that to really explore that question honestly the movie would have had to go much darker than I think it wanted to. I think that what most people call love is probably a mix of many things, and some of them are not necessarily positive (obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, etc.). Nevertheless, the movie raises the question in a way that I think most romantic comedies do not, even if it winds up giving a somewhat stock answer ("you know it when you feel it").
The one complaint I had with the movie is with the ending. SPOILER ALERT AGAIN (that's two spoiler alerts for those keeping count). The movie was so original in some ways, I was a little disappointed that the ending seemed fairly pedestrian. The main character has his heart broken, we see him in his depression, going to the store in his bathrobe, then we see the standard montage where he starts working on his architecture again, applying for jobs, and getting his life back on track. This is the standard formula. Heart break is the catalyst that finally forces people to pursue their dreams. We have all seen that story a million times. I realize that this is often what really happens in real life. It has happened to me twice. I had my heart broken and then finally decided to do something I had been wanting to do for years but was too lazy, too caught up in my own inertia, or whatever, and it eventually turned out that those heart breaks were really positive events in my life. So I understand why movies follow this script, but I was a little disappointed anyways and I will tell you why.
There is a scene in the movie where Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character is sketching while watching his little sister play soccer. He has just had his heart broken and as soon as that scene came up I thought "Here we go! He is going to get back into architecture and get his life back on track! I know exactly how this story is going to end, there are no more surprises." Then it cut to what he was actually sketching and, to my surprise, it was a picture of Summer (Zooey Deschanel) holding a bloody knife, and a dead, bloody body in the background, and I thought, "Yes! This movie forced me to jump to a hasty conclusion, and then stomped on it". I really love it when movies do that, when they play with the expectations of the audience, and with the familiar tropes, in order to surprise. I was so happy to see that bloody knife (never thought I would say that again).
But it was only temporary. The movie wound up going the traditional route in the end. It was not a huge problem for me. It certainly did not ruin the movie for me, and I cannot really imagine any other ending that would have been any more satisfying. I just got so excited when I thought they were going to dash my expectations that I was disappointed when they did not. All in all, I think this movie is definitely worth watching. Especially if you happen to have a fever that only a romantic comedy can cure.
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Customer reviews
500 Days of Summer - Non-Linear Rom-Comedy
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2019
If you're like me, you don't just watch any romantic comedy. Personally, I only watched this one because it had both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. It proves to be much more of a dark comedy than I think it intends to be, but watching it again definitely made me realize I'm a lot older than I was when this came out. Both characters are incredibly selfish and want their own things, and force each other's worldview on each other in passive, sometimes aggressive ways. Despite all of this, Joe and Zooey really make this movie a delight to watch.The director Marc Webb is fortunate to have such a good cast in this film, because I don't feel it would have worked without them. However, I do think some if not most of the movie is tailored to the styles of both leading actors. They state in Special Features that they've worked with each other in the past and are good friends. It makes sense considering both of their personalities, but also shows in the chemistry that they have on-screen. What I didn't care for this second-time around was the way that both have a dark side.Tom is very pessimistic, and seems to at times lack common sense. One scene in particular that stood out to me is when they are in IKEA, and he is the first to play pretend house with the furniture. It really goes to show his sensibilities when it comes to relationships, and he's projecting this reality on Zooey. Zooey throughout the film challenges Tom's willpower, which I found extremely more frustrating than charming on this viewing. She asks a lot of questions and pushes Tom to see how far he will go, almost knowing that he's falling in love with her despite her wishes.Something about this annoyed me, but I think it's due to watching this film at an age where you're looking back at yourself in this. It's not current, or how you see relationships even now 10 years later. So what I found appreciation for is the phenomenal soundtrack, which is unsurprising considering the director's music video history, as well as the main two cast members. Clark Gregg also has a small role as the boss of the greeting card company that Tom works for, and has a few pretty funny scenes. The non-linear way in which the story is told makes it a unique romantic comedy that works in a lot of ways, despite maybe seeing the worst in the characters.It's a testament to the acting ability of both and their chemistry, and maybe the second viewing is supposed to feel more chaotic. The Summer Effect was in full force after her yearbook stated that she painted her life with chaos, so it's fitting that their 500 day fling was chaotic at least. It's a charming movie about two young people who fall in love in their own ideal ways and learn more about themselves than each other in the process. I also enjoyed the theory that Summer was not actually present in the park during the last scene, and it was a mental moment for Tom like the parade scene.Throughout the Special Features and commentary, one of the two writers loves to differentiate himself from the group by having absurd opinions. Some of the moments featured from throughout the film are from his alleged life, and he has very personal ties to them. So much so, that he insists certain assumptions are true throughout the movie because he cannot separate his life from the film. It comes to a head a few times in the commentary to a point in which all involved argue about the intentions of the scene. It's kind of funny to listen to, but somewhat not surprising that I was seeing the same in the character Tom throughout the film. Despite all of that, (500) Days of Summer is a great romantic comedy that I'd recommend to any fans of the two main stars, as well as folks who enjoy unique takes on overdone genres like the rom-com.Case game in great condition from the seller. Used copy included digital copy insert (impressive), digital copy, and Blu-ray copy in great shape.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2019
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Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 12, 2012
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 3, 2019
The director Marc Webb is fortunate to have such a good cast in this film, because I don't feel it would have worked without them. However, I do think some if not most of the movie is tailored to the styles of both leading actors. They state in Special Features that they've worked with each other in the past and are good friends. It makes sense considering both of their personalities, but also shows in the chemistry that they have on-screen. What I didn't care for this second-time around was the way that both have a dark side.
Tom is very pessimistic, and seems to at times lack common sense. One scene in particular that stood out to me is when they are in IKEA, and he is the first to play pretend house with the furniture. It really goes to show his sensibilities when it comes to relationships, and he's projecting this reality on Zooey. Zooey throughout the film challenges Tom's willpower, which I found extremely more frustrating than charming on this viewing. She asks a lot of questions and pushes Tom to see how far he will go, almost knowing that he's falling in love with her despite her wishes.
Something about this annoyed me, but I think it's due to watching this film at an age where you're looking back at yourself in this. It's not current, or how you see relationships even now 10 years later. So what I found appreciation for is the phenomenal soundtrack, which is unsurprising considering the director's music video history, as well as the main two cast members. Clark Gregg also has a small role as the boss of the greeting card company that Tom works for, and has a few pretty funny scenes. The non-linear way in which the story is told makes it a unique romantic comedy that works in a lot of ways, despite maybe seeing the worst in the characters.
It's a testament to the acting ability of both and their chemistry, and maybe the second viewing is supposed to feel more chaotic. The Summer Effect was in full force after her yearbook stated that she painted her life with chaos, so it's fitting that their 500 day fling was chaotic at least. It's a charming movie about two young people who fall in love in their own ideal ways and learn more about themselves than each other in the process. I also enjoyed the theory that Summer was not actually present in the park during the last scene, and it was a mental moment for Tom like the parade scene.
Throughout the Special Features and commentary, one of the two writers loves to differentiate himself from the group by having absurd opinions. Some of the moments featured from throughout the film are from his alleged life, and he has very personal ties to them. So much so, that he insists certain assumptions are true throughout the movie because he cannot separate his life from the film. It comes to a head a few times in the commentary to a point in which all involved argue about the intentions of the scene. It's kind of funny to listen to, but somewhat not surprising that I was seeing the same in the character Tom throughout the film. Despite all of that, (500) Days of Summer is a great romantic comedy that I'd recommend to any fans of the two main stars, as well as folks who enjoy unique takes on overdone genres like the rom-com.
Case game in great condition from the seller. Used copy included digital copy insert (impressive), digital copy, and Blu-ray copy in great shape.
500 Days of Summer - Non-Linear Rom-Comedy
By sixthreezy on March 2, 2019
If you're like me, you don't just watch any romantic comedy. Personally, I only watched this one because it had both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. It proves to be much more of a dark comedy than I think it intends to be, but watching it again definitely made me realize I'm a lot older than I was when this came out. Both characters are incredibly selfish and want their own things, and force each other's worldview on each other in passive, sometimes aggressive ways. Despite all of this, Joe and Zooey really make this movie a delight to watch.By sixthreezy on March 2, 2019
The director Marc Webb is fortunate to have such a good cast in this film, because I don't feel it would have worked without them. However, I do think some if not most of the movie is tailored to the styles of both leading actors. They state in Special Features that they've worked with each other in the past and are good friends. It makes sense considering both of their personalities, but also shows in the chemistry that they have on-screen. What I didn't care for this second-time around was the way that both have a dark side.
Tom is very pessimistic, and seems to at times lack common sense. One scene in particular that stood out to me is when they are in IKEA, and he is the first to play pretend house with the furniture. It really goes to show his sensibilities when it comes to relationships, and he's projecting this reality on Zooey. Zooey throughout the film challenges Tom's willpower, which I found extremely more frustrating than charming on this viewing. She asks a lot of questions and pushes Tom to see how far he will go, almost knowing that he's falling in love with her despite her wishes.
Something about this annoyed me, but I think it's due to watching this film at an age where you're looking back at yourself in this. It's not current, or how you see relationships even now 10 years later. So what I found appreciation for is the phenomenal soundtrack, which is unsurprising considering the director's music video history, as well as the main two cast members. Clark Gregg also has a small role as the boss of the greeting card company that Tom works for, and has a few pretty funny scenes. The non-linear way in which the story is told makes it a unique romantic comedy that works in a lot of ways, despite maybe seeing the worst in the characters.
It's a testament to the acting ability of both and their chemistry, and maybe the second viewing is supposed to feel more chaotic. The Summer Effect was in full force after her yearbook stated that she painted her life with chaos, so it's fitting that their 500 day fling was chaotic at least. It's a charming movie about two young people who fall in love in their own ideal ways and learn more about themselves than each other in the process. I also enjoyed the theory that Summer was not actually present in the park during the last scene, and it was a mental moment for Tom like the parade scene.
Throughout the Special Features and commentary, one of the two writers loves to differentiate himself from the group by having absurd opinions. Some of the moments featured from throughout the film are from his alleged life, and he has very personal ties to them. So much so, that he insists certain assumptions are true throughout the movie because he cannot separate his life from the film. It comes to a head a few times in the commentary to a point in which all involved argue about the intentions of the scene. It's kind of funny to listen to, but somewhat not surprising that I was seeing the same in the character Tom throughout the film. Despite all of that, (500) Days of Summer is a great romantic comedy that I'd recommend to any fans of the two main stars, as well as folks who enjoy unique takes on overdone genres like the rom-com.
Case game in great condition from the seller. Used copy included digital copy insert (impressive), digital copy, and Blu-ray copy in great shape.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
J. McDonald
(500) Days of Summer.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 29, 2021
Miss C.K
Bittersweet love story that isn't really a love story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 3, 2012
DigitalAuthor
A RomCom(?) for men.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 29, 2015The Shaddino
To die by your side...!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 28, 2014
