(500) Days of Summer is not only my favourite romantic comedy but it is also one of my all-time favourite movies. I therefore thought the film apt to write about in our “Valentine’s Day Special” of the Q Review. However as the title says, while the film is a story about love, it
isn’t a love story. The plot chronicles the 500 days in the on/off relationship of and Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his dream-girl Summer (Zooey Deschanel). It isn’t gushy and full of rom-com clichés and the relationship between Tom and Summer certainly isn’t perfect and isn’t shoved in your face. However the relationship is definitely real and relatable. Who hasn’t been head-over heals about someone who just doesn’t feel the same way? Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are fantastic in their rolls and you can’t help but feel sucked in by the chemistry the couple create onscreen. It is also brilliant to see everything from the man’s point of view and it is because of this that you can’t label the film as a chick-flick. There are some really funny, heart warming and original scenes, one of the best being when Tom and Summer go shopping in Ikea. This humour is also matched by some rather sad but equally brilliant scenes as Tom and Summer’s relationship unravels. A particular highlight of the film shows Tom’s “expectations” and “reality” being exquisitely translated at the same time on the screen with beautiful and heartbreaking results. The soundtrack isn’t your typical romance type of stuff either and instead we are treated to a selection of songs by artists such as The Smiths, Regina Spektor and The Temper Trap.
The overall result is an off-beat, quirky and bittersweet story about love that is ultimately life affirming. This is definately a film to watch if you are single this Valentine's day but still want something romantic. The end acts as a reminder that there is somebody out there for everyone and that regardless of how pessimistic you are true love might actually just exist.
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