Review of (500) Days of Summer

Movie #7 - (500) Days of Summer

Genius. This movie is pure genius. I loved every minute of it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been on my radar for almost 17 years now - since I was in love with him as Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun. Despite his long hair...which actually was considered "in" back then...I knew JGL had something special. He had talent, and he still has talent. Incredible talent.

(500) Days of Summer is about a guy named Tom that meets a girl named Summer (played by the ever annoying Zooey Deschanel) and falls in love with her. Tom is adorable. He's romantic, he's attractive, he dresses well, he has an awesome loft-style apartment...the list goes on. Tom is perfect. He doesn't see the warning signs with Summer and ends up getting his heart crushed.

I really do believe that this is the movie that made me despise Zooey Deschanel as much as I do - okay, that and her hideous singing voice. I know it's just a character she plays in a movie, but I can't stand girls like her character, Summer. Stringing the guy along because you think you can. Ugh.

This movie centers around the theme of love and finding "The One." It really shows how hard it is to find that special someone. The way that the director captures Tom's feelings is amazing. I love the crazy French film with Tom playing chess against Cupid. This movie is just completely genius. I think the coolest aspect of the film is the fade into the "Summer Countdown." It's really creative when Tom runs down the street and the scene becomes a sketch...like Tom's architecture sketches. You can tell that there was a lot of thought put into this film, and that's why I think I love it so much.

There is a scene towards the end where Tom goes on a rant about love while he's in a greeting card meeting. It's perfect. Everything he says is the absolute truth...and no matter how hard I try, I cannot find a dang video of the speech! He complains about how people are afraid to say how they really feel and how music and movies give us an unrealistic interpretation of what love should be. It's spot on.

Overall, the only thing that could've made this movie even closer to 100% perfect would be to give Chloe Moretz more screen time. She plays Tom's little sister, and she's hilarious. Chloe always seems to play the child that is wise for her young age, and it suits her fine. She continues to give Tom love advice throughout the movie, and she ends up being right. My favorite quote of hers is when she's talking to Tom about a guy she likes and she describes him as having "Brad Pitt's face and Jesus's abs."


My favorite scene from the movie - because JGL is dancing...and he's just so dang talented:

If you haven't figured out how much I love this movie already, then let me put it out there plain and simple.
I give (500) Days of Summer 5 out of 5 stars.