Apoorva Ramesh: (500) Days of Summer

Apoorva Ramesh

Period 2 APLAC

Ms. Taylor

Most romantic comedies are basically the same. The boy and girl meet, fall in love, overcome their struggles together, and eventually get married. (500) Days of Summer (2009) defies this stereotype, setting up for an original and refreshing film filled with emotion, charm, and humor. Directed by Marc Webb and starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this independent film captures the essence of “modern love” and encapsulates the pain and passion involved in heartbreak (IMDB). (500) Days of Summer is undoubtedly one of the best romantic comedies in today’s day and age.

A good movie can be classified by many aspects, but the most important elements to be taken into consideration are the acting, the believability and originality of the plot, and the overall entertainment value of the movie (Rusty Lime). (500) Days of Summer encompasses all of these elements and more, making it one of the best romantic comedies I have ever seen.

(500) Days of Summer is a story about love, but not a love story (IMDB). The main character, Tom Hansen(Gordon-Levitt) is an architect who works in a greeting card company where he meets Summer Finn(Deschanel), and their relationship spans 500 days. Tom believes in true love, while Summer is more pragmatic and doesn’t. They enjoy spending time with each other and as time goes on Tom realizes he is in love with her. However, Summer doesn’t feel the same way about him and ends their relationship. After she breaks up with him, he spirals into depression and feels incomplete. Later, he finds out that Summer has gotten married to someone else and he is devastated. At the end of the film, he meets a girl named Autumn, symbolizing him moving on with his life. The film starts out after Summer breaks up with Tom, and the movie consists of Tom reflects back on his relationship with Summer. The movie is organized as a flip-book, where Tom looks back on different memories of Summer and learns more about himself. While (500) Days of Summer doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, it ends on an upbeat and inspirational note.

Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt both act exceptionally throughout (500) Days of Summer. As the main protagonist, Gordon-Levitt does a fantastic job of playing the hopeless romantic looking for love. Every moment of emotion, whether one of hope, pain, passion, or confusion, is captured by Gordon-Levitt. He doesn’t hold back, and takes on the role of Tom in a way that is three dimensional and complex. His portrayal also got him nominated for a Golden Globe, a People’s Choice Award, and an Independent Spirit Award (Wikipedia). Gordon Levitt was also recognized for his roles in 50/50 and Inception. (IMDB) Deschanel’s portrayal of Summer is equally as genuine as Gordon-Levitt’s, and she embodies the character of Summer, as a quirky and charming girl, who at the same time is vulnerable and elusive. While her actions would make her seem ruthless and cruel, she appears to be human and controlled by her emotions. The chemistry between these two actors is undeniable and surreal and they seem perfectly matched together.

In addition to acting and cast, another one of the best aspects of (500) Days of Summer is the plot itself. While the concept of two people falling in love has been done numerous times, this film takes a new and fresh perspective on the traditional story. This modern twist is seen throughout the movie. It is exceptionally unique that Tom is the protagonist, because in romantic comedies the female lead is usually the leading character. Also, the ending is one of the most realistic and believable endings I have ever seen. The film acknowledges that all relationships are not perfect, and no matter how perfect some seem, they can still come to an end. Also, while the breakup of Summer and Tom may be tragic, the movie ends on an inspirational note, showing that moving on is right thing to do. (500) Days of Summer is original and feels like real life, making it realistic and relatable for audiences.

An interesting plot and an ingenious cast contributed to making (500) Days of Summer extremely entertaining on many levels. The movie is humorous and light-hearted as the audience sees Summer and Tom’s adventures, whether they are singing karaoke or playing house in IKEA, and it keeps the mood during more serious scenes when Tom reflects on their breakup and when he goes into depression. The pace of the movie is not too slow, so audiences are kept interested. Also, the unconventional “flipbook” style of the movie contributes to the entertainment value of the movie as audiences see many stages of Tom and Summer’s relationship, not necessarily in order. The overall mood of the movie is cheerful and fun, and the audience loves watching Summer and Tom onscreen together.

Overall, (500) Days of Summer redefines what a good romantic comedy is. Its talented cast, realistic plot, and the pure entertainment value of this movie are responsible for its greatness and I feel that all romantic comedy lovers will greatly enjoy this film. No other romantic comedy can compare to this brilliant and flawless masterpiece.

Works Cited

IMDB. 2009. 12 February 2012 .

Rusty Lime. 3 April 2008. 12 February 2012 .

Wikipedia. 10 February 2012. 12 February 2012 .