Review: (500) Days of Summer

Summer of Love

Boy, I don't know about you, but 2009 has been one stinker of a year so far. Don't get me wrong, I still have a fondness for some films like Up, Star Trek and The Hurt Locker, but those are only small examples. For goodness sake, Drag Me to Hell is still in my top five. In all honesty, I was about ready to give up hope and fear that I had seen the best the year had to offer until the "prestige" pictures started to come out and would make me like films only I was told to like by the Oscar campaigns. But just as all hope starts to fade, a film like this peeks over the horizon and breaths a much appreciated and welcomed bit of fresh air into a disappointing movie season and a generally contrived genre. And what fresh air it is.

Summer in the title refers to the girl Summer (Zooey Deschanel) and the boy she meets, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Both are young, attractive twentysomethings working for a greeting card company in Los Angeles. The film yo-yos to different moments in the 500 days of their complex relationship to explore their ups, downs, highlights and low moments that eventually leads to their break-up. That isn't a spoiler because as it is blatantly said by the film's stern narrator, "This is not a love story."

I'm not prejudice against the romantic comedy, but I am a strong skeptic of it because rarely does it feel genuine. Even in this day in age, we still get movies like The Proposal which morphs unrealistic characters with not an ounce of likable or realistic personality and puts them into contrived situations not even fit enough for a bad episode of "Three's Company". But every once in a while, one breaks the mold, and it is when the film not only has likable, and most importantly believable, characters that also spins its tale in a creative way. That creativity is something that director Marc Webb is capable of providing. Making his feature film debut after a career in music videos, he brings a high sense of creative energy that surges through the entire film.

Webb's sense of direction, coupled with that of writers Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, is really what makes the film special than some of its predecessors. The jumping back and forth within the narrative is only one part of that. One notable scene is when Tom attends a party of Zooey and the screen splits in two, showing what Tom's expectations were that night and what happens in reality. Some of the differences are more subtle than the other, but it is definitely a scene that shows how a little creativity can go a long way. Another one would be a sort of faux musical number by Tom and passers by on the street. If you can look at that scene and keep a smile all the way through, then you've found the odd sense of humor the film carries and you will enjoy it for that.

Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are really perfect for these roles. He has yet to provided a bad performance in any movie I've seen him in, and he can make every character he takes on reach a broad range of emotion while providing so little movements in his character. He's expressive without chewing the scenery. She finally fits into this role comfortably and makes that flighty, earthy persona she's carried for so many years feel like a credible match against Tom's grounded, yet occasionally delusional, mindset. There's also some good supporting work from Geoffrey Arend as Tom's co-worker friend and Chloe Morentz as Tom's wise-beyond-her-years younger sister.

In the end, this is a really sweet movie that always knows its place. It is smart, energetic and delightful, and just when it begins to be a little long winded, it cuts the scene short and moves onto the next that is just as fascinating as the last. The cast is terrific and they work off of a very creative approach to this story. I guarantee that from every moment, even the last tacked on bit, will bring a smile to your face and you'll appreciate the sense of realism the movie carries with its extravagant storytelling. If you don't, then I guess you'll just have to go on grieving with the rest of the year. As for me, I'm relishing in the experience that is the best film of the year so far. **** / ****; GRADE: A