500 Days of summer – Movie Review

This indie film featuring Zooey Deschanel and Jospeh Gordon-Levitt started out as a film festival hit. It quickly moved into small theaters across the country where it received rave reviews from critics and movie-goers alike. Now, it’s being screened at every big theater in the country, and has already received a whopping 8.6 approval rating on IMDB Internet Movie Database).
It comes down to this: the real-life love story. Initially, you reall think you know where this story is going. But, the write of 500 Days of (Summer) weren’t out to give you a fairy tale. Their plan was called real life. In simple terms, a boy falls in love with a girl who doesn’t seem to want love, and doesn’t love him. How does it all turn out after 500 days? Well, I won’t spoil that for you.
But, I will say that between Deschanel’s subtleties on the silver screens and Gordon-Levitt’s hilarity in despair, this kitschy film has an emotional and profound quality. Somehow, it seems very light and fun when it starts out. But as you see the characters and learn about their stories, you really begin to feel for them. Walking of the theater, I felt a very real sense of acknowledgment to both their situations, and that made me think about my own relationships. I spent half the time laughing and half the time thinking, which I have to admit, made for a very good movie watching experience. I highly recommend it.