(Author’s note: I rarely go see movies in the theater, but Sunday Movie Review sounds nice, so I’m going with it. If I keep this up, I may have to resort to “reviewing” the old standbys like “Independence Day” and “Major League.” Kidding… or am I?)
I went and saw “(500) Days of Summer” this afternoon. If you haven’t heard of it, you should IMDB it. It’s an indie Fox Searchlight film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (you know, the kid from “3rd Rock from the Sun” and the good guy opposite the other good guy played by Heath Ledger in “10 Things I hate About You”) and Zooey Deschanel (from “Yes Man” and “Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy” among others).
I won’t try to give too much away, but it’s a Boy Meets Girl story that–the movie claims at the top–is “not a love story.” Gordon-Levitt pulls off the “morose bastard” role perfectly (don’t worry, he’s not like this the whole time). Deschanel seems perfect for the slightly aloof, quirky love interest, and that shows throughout the movie.
There were three things that really stood out for me when watching this movie. First is the fact that the 500 days you see vignettes from (to show the entire arc of the relationship–again not trying to give too much away) are not displayed chronologically, but bounces around in no particular order. It adds an element of challenge to keep you riveted, rather than feeling formulaic. (As an aside, I feel that this technique is one of the primary reasons why “Pulp Fiction” is such a fantastic movie.)
Second is the often hilarious use of Gordon-Levitt’s character’s sister as the voice of reason. She can’t be more than 12, but she’s giving his brother the advice that his same-age friends can’t. With a clarity and beyond-her-age sophistication that adds to the effect, no less.
Third is the music. Being a former music major, proper choice of music or an excellent original score are the quickest way for a movie to get into my heart as one of my favorites. The music selection in this movie: superb. A particular favorite was the use of Hall and Oates as a dance sequence (you’ll love this even if you don’t love the movie. That’s a promise.)
I loved this movie, and it may already be among my all-time favorites–that’s crazy, I know. I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to laugh, get pissed off, and find relief in a movie that could have very easily fallen into the formulaic romantic comedy trap and thankfully did not.
My grade: A+
Entertainment Weekly Rating: A
