‘(500) Days of Summer’ – Oscar bait in a shallow pool

cftoto — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:55:48 +0000

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)

WHAT WOULD TOTO WATCH? » Zooey Deschanel

‘(500) Days of Summer’ – Oscar bait in a shallow pool