Rating: 3 out of 4
Nowadays, when you hear the term romantic comedies, you think of this formula: Kate Hudson or Matthew McConaughey stars in a movie that creates humor from insecurity to attract the opposite sex in the hopes of being loved for who they are: a smart-ass playing dumb.
While comedy has always been cousins with the dumb humor, romantic comedies seem to be the most formulaic and fall victim to this, often times losing storyline by showing what falling in love can do to someone's mentality.
There was a time when you could play it cool and use more philosophical logic to create humor ("Annie Hall"? "When Harry Met Sally..."? "High Fidelity"?). By creating these characters as vulnerable and reasonable, we were able to reflect ourselves better and that made the movies more endearing.
That is why it is refreshing to see a movie that doesn't have big names nor relies heavily on stupid behavior. "(500) Days of Summer" focuses on greeting card writer Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his relationship with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the boss' assisstant.
It's not exactly love at first sight (rumors of being a uptight), but the romance plays out in real time, choosing at times to be non-linear to reflect certain situations of the two whom Summer wants to be just friends, but includes various sensual gestures that confuse Tom.
In fact, the movie never clarifies that they were dating, but it was clear that Tom was in love. The twists and his tension as he feels closer seems different from most movies in the sense that it doesn't cop out for bogus relationships and instead becomes a story about love, but not a love story.
There are definitely artistic directions that scream independent movie, but as a whole this is one of the better romantic comedies to be released in years. The romance is real because it doesn't come conveniently. There are elements reminiscent of titles past, but as a whole, creates new standards for what should be expected in future romantic comedies.
In closing, Zooey Deschanel is breathtaking in this movie and rarely comes across as the goody two-shoes of the Kate Hudson breed of actresses. She manages to create innocense and ambigous notions that keeps the movie driving for a hope of Gordon-Levitt finally reaching his dream, but only leaving memories and new desires along the way.
"(500) Days of Summer" is a movie to be seen to be believed. The writing is top notch and while the non-linear is minor, contributes very well. It doesn't play off as hipster as "Juno", but the music selection is diverse and creates a breathtaking atmosphere that at times you don't want to come out of.
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