500 Days of Summer

the rom-com for cynics : 500 days of summer

You may have noticed the film 500 Days of Summer being heavily promoted (and hyped) lately. I tried not to read reviews. But it was difficult to ignore the television ads. I went into seeing this film almost not wanting to like it. Despite reservations I had about just how *great* this film is supposed to be, I had to see it for myself.


I was pleasantly surprised. It's really funny, clever, charming and innovative in a way that doesn't make me roll my eyes. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are completely irresistible. Crush-worthy. The costume and set design were great. I adored Summer's (Zooey Deschanel's) outfits. Everything was well-considered and smart. There was even a nod to 60s French New Wave films which was unexpected. There was a reference to my favourite author Alain de Botton and his book The Architecture of Happiness (in my top five books of all-time). This alone could have sold me on the film! I also loved the split screen sequences that plays out the male lead character's "Expectations" of an evening on the left and the "Reality" on the right. It wasn't self-indulgent or annoying. It was modern. The best way I can describe this film is it's the romantic comedy for rom-com cynics. I liked it. A lot. It's well-worth seeing on the big screen. Really. Just go see it.

 

Film still photo from imdb.com