Film and TV

Out on DVD: (500) Days of Summer (15)

By Kim Francis
January 28, 2010

(500) Days of Summer markets itself as not a love story but a story about love – a self-consciously kooky strap line for a self-consciously kooky film. Consider the evidence.

The lead characters Summer (Zooey Deschanel) and Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) mutually bond over Brit band The Smiths. They love The Beatles.

Summer – and these are Americans here – even loves Scot outfit Belle and Sebastian. No one outside of the UK loves Belle and Sebastian.

The pair meet when they are working at a greetings card company – an appropriately quirky job, the scriptwriters clearly thought.

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After a night on the tiles, they get together. But they are not really together.

Summer, the girl of Tom’s dreams, refuses to acknowledge they are actually in a relationship. And so it begins.

(500) Days of Summer recounts each day of their non-relationship in a haphazard order. Despite being the name in the title, Summer plays a supplementary part to Tom, who is the character the audience is really rooting for and loves.

Her adores Summer – with her strange 60s; haircut and unusual clothes – absolutely. But then love was never easy.

A critic said (500) Days of Summer was a story about unrequited love, but it’s not. It is however, despite what the writers might claim, a love story.

There are good things about 500 Days of Summer.

Many people will remember Gordon-Levitt from his days in Third Rock From the Sun. Well, he has come of age and makes a lovely and incredibly likeable lead actor.

The film has a great – and British – soundtrack and the outfits Summer wears are fantastic. But there is no character development and the plot is awkward.

The film is enjoyable but it is too aware of what it is trying to be, and consequently – well – just tries a bit too hard.

There are better films out there. There are better love stories out there too. But if you are after a couple of hours of pleasant, albeit not genius, fun then 500 Days of Summer is the film for you.

It might even get you believing in love again. Or maybe not.

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