Film: (500) Days of Summer

STARRING: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, The Lookout); Zooey Deshanel (Yes Man, Elf, Surf’s Up )
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb (music videos)
WRITERS: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber (Pink Panther 2)
PLOT: A nonlinear romantic comedy about a woman who doesn’t believe in true love and the man who falls for her.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 If you’re doing a romantic comedy, it all hinges on the chemistry of the romantic leads. (500) Days of Summer does not disappoint. I’ve enjoyed Gordon-Levitt’s work ever since his amazing turn in Brick. He plays awkward yet endearing beautifully. Deshanel is always adorable in a pixie way. They play well off each other and that makes this film a treat to watch.
4 When you look at the writers’ previous effort it must make you cringe a little. Summer, however, is incredibly well written. It perfectly captures all the ins and outs of infatuation, flirtation, and rejection. The script twists some of the usual romantic conventions while celebrating others. Nicely done.
4 Like Juno and Garden State before it, Summer makes good use of music to help tell their story. It helps that the lead characters are into The Smiths. It also helps that the director used to work on music videos. I bought the soundtrack after the movie ended. Oh, and there is a fantastic dance sequence to the Hall & Oates classic ‘You Make My Dreams.’ It’s perfection.
4 My biggest beef about this film is the unnecessary narrator. The actors do a fine job of showing their emotions on the screen; I don’t need a narrator to tell me what I already know. It’s not like the film is all cerebral and confusing. It’s a rookie mistake, but I’ll forgive them.
4 It’s only 90 minutes long! Perfect length! Take notes, Judd Apatow!

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the theatre
(Just so you can tell others about it)
(It’s hard to find but worth the time)

COMING SOON
District 9, Inglorious Basterds