Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, Clark Gregg, Patricia Belcher, Rachel Boston, Minka Kelly, Maile Flanagan, Yvette Nicole Brown, Olivia Bagg, Richard McGonagle 

Director: Marc Webb 

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Watermark, Dune Entertainment III, USA, 2009. 

Greeting card designer Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meets and falls in love with new assistant of his boss Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). However the movie begins after their breakup, with Tom trying to recollect what went wrong. The story goes on non-linearly, with title-cards showing the day's number. This contrasts the crazy feeling of falling in love with the romance gone stale. 

Tom and Summer at the park

Tom getting help from his friends

Tom is a romantic who wants to find his perfect girl. Summer does not believe in love and does not want a serious relationship. Well, at least Tom was warned beforehand. First everything is nice and fun with them goofing around in Ikea, but then the couple soon starts to grow apart. Tom wanted to be an architect and Summer thinks he would do better in that profession instead of designing greeting cards. 

Summer singing Karaoke

Tom singing too

At times the story takes surreal turns, such as Tom appearing in art-house movies. There is also a split screen scene showing Tom's Expectations vs Reality. The movie's style as a romantic comedy reminds "When Harry Met Sally" or Woody Allen's films. 

The couple at the movies

Tom's melancholic movie

Expectations vs reality

Tom is a sympathetic character and Summer a cute heart breaker. Tom's little sister Rachel (Chloë Grace Moretz) is fun as an 11-year old dating specialist. Also music plays an important role an role in the movie, the sound track contains music from the Smiths, Simon & Garfunkel and Regina Spektor.

Rachel giving dating advice

Tom and the new beginning

Rating: Very good