500 Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer
DVD 500

Quirky little film about relationships and personalities. I watched this one mainly because I've enjoyed star Joseph Gordon-Levitt since his days as a child actor on the 1990s take on Dark Shadows, and later 3rd Rock From the Sun. I find myself torn in offering a recommendation for this film -- although I ended up enjoying it quite a lot, I can see why some viewers would find it very disappointing. Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, a greeting card writer going through a vaguely unfulfilled life, expecting "fate" to lead him to encounter "the one" -- the girl he's destined to be with. Zooey Deschanel plays Summer, a free-spirited, independent young woman, who's not looking to be in any kind of heavy relationship, but who never-the-less finds herself connecting with Tom. The film explores the 500 days of their relationship -- the positives and the negatives -- in a non-sequential order, jumping backwards and forwards in their timeline. The performances are great. The storytelling technique is intriguing. It's just the ultimate conclusion of the film that could leave viewers with a sour taste. Personally, I found it a rewarding film to experience. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available: soundtrack.]
[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official 500 Days of Summer web site ]

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