At the beginning of (500) Days of Summer, the film makers intentionally allude to the fact that what you are about to see is a work of fiction, and the story is not about anyone real. While they played it as a joke, sometimes you can imagine yourself in the story. You may feel that you resemble a Summer Finn or you may feel that you resemble a Tom Hanson. There’s a little of both of them in all of us. Unless you are dead to love inside.
The movie is about Tom and Summer and their days in and out of love. The movie wants to avoid any romantic comedy clichés, but does pack some in. The meet cute: “I love the Smiths.” Awww. The fatefulness of love: it works not as you expect, but it does. The quirky sidekicks: no its the guys this time not the girl. The cliché are there, but inverted. I watch a lot and know about romantic comedies and these just jump right out at me. The film makers wanted to hide it but it’s there.
They also hide the tale of the relationship. Yes, they meet and then they break up. The why is harder to grasp. “We fight a lot?” Really? Show me. “I didn’t feel like I wanted to.” Really? Show me where you didn’t. If you put the scenes in chronological order will it show why they broke up? I felt like I missed it. They could’ve made it more clearer.
The writers did a good job at capturing love as seen by a sappy boy. I could be that sappy boy. I too have notions of ideal love. Perhaps looking for too perfect love. I’ll never find it. I credit the writers for making such a realistic story. I’ll not credit myself for feeling so like a Tom Hanson.
What’s there not to like about the film? I didn’t like the happy ending. I didn’t like that love can conquer all at least that is what I got from how Tom broke out of his funk. Yes. Breakups shouldn’t always be good for you. They’re bad. Why does his sister have to be so smart? During the opening credits, I couldn’t believe that a soccer player that young could like The Smiths and the Jesus and Mary Chain. No kid listening to that music looked like that when I was growing up.
What’s good? “She likes Magritte and Hopper.” Hmm-hm. I wish they all could be.
3 of 5 stars.
