In most years, “(500) Days of Summer” would be a light, genre-breaking delight, and nothing more.
This year, that’s probably enough to earn the film some Oscar talk.
That’s the sorry state of this year’s film lineup, but it’s also a reminder Academy voters should share some love with movies that put a bounce in our collective step.
And “Summer” does just that thanks to its adorable leads and a willingness to flout rom-com conventions.
“Summer” stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom, a failed architect making ends meet as a greeting card scribe. The job bores him, but it does introduce him to Summer (Zooey Deschanel, redefining the cliche “cute as a button”).
The pair flirt awkwardly but soon become an item. He thinks he’s found The One. She gets an allergic reaction to the word “commitment.”
But neither emotional tic is treated superficially. Instead, their romantic ups and downs play out over roughly 500 days - hence the title - in time shifting fashion.
One minute the pair are fighting like an old married couple, the next they’re flirting at IKEA during the early stages of their courtship.
Director Marc Webb, making an impressive feature length debut, shreds the “boy meets girl” formula with alacrity. A narrator keeps the segmented film in a semblance of order, leaving just enough room for an enchanting musical number featuring Tom celebrating the love of his young life.
Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel couldn’t be any more perfect together, which makes the actress’ botched pairing with Jim Carrey in “Yes Man” all the more jarring.
The former “Third Rock from the Sun” star continues to build an career to be savored - we’ll forgive him “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”
“(500) Days of Summer” hangs on a melancholy through line, but is so full of joy and unbreakable truths that even stubborn romantics will fall - hard - for it.
NOTE: The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Dec. 22. This review is based on a screener version of the theatrical film.
(Photo: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel fall in - and out - of love in “9500) Days of Summer.” Photo Credit: Chuck Zlotnick)
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I'm an award-winning journalist and film critic with more than a decade of experience in newspapers, magazines and the Web. I'm a member of both the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association and the Denver Film Critics Society.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This one is getting serious Oscar talk??? Oh dear god. It was cutesy, but very forgettable.
You know what? I’m seriously considering boycotting the Oscars this year. There are NEVER 10 movies worth a best picture nomination… it’s hard enough finding 5. This is all about money… so sad.
Okay, now that the rants over I’m no longer considering boycotting the Oscars. I’m pretty addicted to the show - I even watch the pre-show just to see all the pretty dresses. I’m girly when it comes to Oscar fashion.
Dunno if the talk is serious, but I received an Oscar screener of the film which says something, and I read plenty of raves for the movie when it first came out.
And like you said, voters will really have to scratch and claw to come up with 10 Best Picture nominees.
I’m rooting for “(500) Days” simply to shake things up … plus it’s a romance with palpable chemistry between the leads. How rare is that these days?
Well, with 10 nominees, you might be right in cheering for “500 Days.” There was great chemistry. It was just so forgettable.
I never got around to writing a review for HeidiTown. But if I would have, I would have said: Every generation has their romantic comedy. The 80’s had Harry & Sally, the 90’s (my gen) had Reality Bites and now the 2000s have 500 Days.
I think if I were just a little younger, I’d probably have LOVED 500 Days, like I LOVE Reality Bites. I can watch RB about 5 times a year and never get tired of it. Of course, it always makes me crave a Coke and a cig. Bad, bad, bad.