(500)

Yes, I know it has been twelve days since last I wrote, so let’s just get to it.
I promised my ten best of 2009. Alphabetically.

(500) Days of Summer
Directed by Marc Webb

If you read my post about the Spider-Man movie reboot you already know how I feel about this movie. It’s just a perfect portrayal of modern urban romance, the Annie Hall for the new millennium. It packs everything we have all experienced in a relationship (if you are an ultra romantic hipster that is), infatuation, affinity, first date, sex, love, fighting, hating, moping, feeling terrible and moving on. Not in that order mind you and that is one of the things that make the film so special, its non linear narrative, as it jumps back and forth throughout the 500 day duration of Summer and Tom’s relationship.
Zooey Deschanel, the titular Summer, does a great job as the saucer eyed girlfriend that never seems to quite really fall for Tom. In Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom we can easily recognize our own romantic fantasies for the perfect girl. Together they make the relationship work (or not)but most importantly, they make it believable.
A highlight of the film is the scene that represents that natural high that comes with falling in love, as Tom walks out of his apartment and breaks out into song and dance as everyone on the street joins him. Is it just me or haven’t we all felt like that once.
My only complaint would be that despite showing Tom’s life and aspirations, Webb never really gives us a glimpse into what makes Summer tick. But after all, we are looking through Tom’s glasses and it seems he was quite nearsighted and possibly just appreciating what he was projecting unto Summer and not much more.

In any case, (500) Days of Summer is a true romantic comedy, one for all those of us who wouldn’t be caught dead watching a romantic comedy.