First-time director Marc Webb (helmer of music videos for Hot Hot Heat and My Chemical Romance) brings us this unconventional love story: Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn’t.
When Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hapless greeting card copywriter and hopeless romantic, is blindsided after his girlfriend Summer (the brilliant and underrated Zooey Deschanel) dumps him. His mind shifts back and forth through various periods of their 500 days together to try to figure out where things went wrong.
This has got a killer soundtrack including The Smiths, Regina Spektor, Black Lips, Wolfmother and Simon & Garfunkel.
This fun, refreshingly honest look at modern relationships for 20-somethings slides back and forth between key moments in the 500-day romance between idealistic Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and the pretty but mysterious Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Their highs and lows are highlighted by un-chronological storytelling, like when Tom’s ebullient dance routine immediately cuts forward hundreds of days to the poor guy in a heart-broken state of depression.
The pop soundtrack is killer (The Smiths, The Black Lips, Wolfmother among others) and there’s plenty of visual flair, courtesy of veteran music video director Marc Webb. It’s filled with references to pop culture and cinema, even including a humorous nod to the chess scene from Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Tom and Summer running through an IKEA furniture store is reminiscent of the Louvre race in Godard’s Band of Outsiders, a paean to youthful vitality if ever there was.
500 Days of Summer is an instantly accessible film, un-schmaltzy, with all the hooks and sunny choruses of a pop song. Los Angeles has never looked better. “This is not a love story,” warns the voiceover guy at the beginning of the movie. Nonetheless, it’s an attractive, original romantic comedy that could possibly hit close to home for a lot of you romantics.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
I loved it what more can I say great chick flick :)
Rented this one a while back has the young lad frm third rock from the son in it better than expected not a fan of the mono-toned Zooey Deschanel if you can get over her voice then its one to watch.
I loved this film to pieces. It takes the normal romantic comedy formula and turns it on its head. The non-linear storytelling is also very refreshing and well used.
OME this has to be about the only romantic comedy where you dont know what happens until the very end. It was so so so so soooooooooooo funny I laughed out loud the whole movie. I clapped at the end like I had just seen a rock concert. I loved it so much that got the dvd when it came out and watch it often to put it in small words and to cut the words I LOVED IT so it will join the holiday on my list of rom com ledgends
Very funny. Had to watch it twice to fully understand what was going on but overall I enjoyed it alot now my favorite movie
Here is a rare movie that begins by telling us how it will end and is about how the hero has no idea why.
Perfectly played, simultaneously serious and light, endlessly inventive, this is a strong contender for the most original date movie of the year. (Terrific) stuff.
The writing is often clever and the overall production playful and intelligent.
Something seldom seen: an original romantic comedy.
Slight, charming and refreshingly candid little picture.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 1st Oct 2009.
Release date: October 1st 2009.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
