Review of sunny, seasonal romantic-comedy, (500) Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘3rd Rock From The Sun’) and Zooey Deschanel.

Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Clark Gregg
Running time: 95 mins

From its breezy, whimsical and original opening titles to its warm-hearted closing moments, ‘anti-romantic comedy’ (500) Days of Summer succeeds in bringing something new to a stale and formulaic genre (see article) – that of the aforementioned rom-com.

Where (500) Days of Summer breaks away from its predecessors is that we are told from the very start that the boy-meets-girl relationship we are about to see is one that does not end with our hero and heroine living happily ever after together. Yet this does not hamper the film as a consequence. In fact, knowing this enhances and colours (for the better) our judgment of Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer’s (Zooey Deschanel) relationship in each section of the narrative.

Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind before it, (500) Days of Summer presents the trajectory of a couple’s relationship from start to finish out of chronological order, from day 1 to day 500 – the number

of which is presented by brief intertitles throughout the film – a technique which often makes for interesting and intriguing drama and does so very successfully here. And again, similar to Eternal Sunshine, the film is told from the man’s perspective, a plot device fundamentally crucial to the film’s premise but one which is fresh and original; one of the failings of contemporary rom-coms is that the overwhelming majority are based on female perspectives and hackneyed ones at that.

In terms of acting, the two leads are very good and always utterly convincing as the mostly endearing and sympathetic characters they portray. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in particular should be singled out for plaudits, as his co-star Zooey Deschanel seems to be merely displaying an amalgam of her assorted ‘kooky female’ roles in her performance as the eponymous Summer. Having said this, Deschanel maintains a balance between charming and aloof which at the climax of the film, seems to be a fair summation of Tom’s feelings for her. It may just be unfortunate that Deschanel keeps being offered this kind of alternative yet cute character – she is in real danger of being typecast.

Along with great acting and a fresh premise, where the film also charms is in its design (not that the film prioritises style over its substance) and tone. Where other films exert their American-ness, (500) Days of Summer has more of a European feel: Tom and Summer take a trip to Ikea, not Pottery Barn; Tom listens to melancholic British indie rock music; the movies that display Tom’s misery are burlesques on the films of the Nouvelle Vague.

(500) Days of Summer is a quirky, original and well written ‘anti’ romantic-comedy that ends on a warm high note despite the guy not getting his summery girl.

Rating: MMMM

The remarks in the interview certainly ring true when looking at the plethora of ‘rom-coms’ that I myself have been subjected to in recent memory that I can only describe as tedious, throwaway slush that serves its purpose and no more (and can be bought in bulk in 2,3 and 4 disc box sets from many a retail outlet). These films are shamelessly formulaic and predictable, nearly all of which share the same basic premise (boy/girl meets girl/boy, they get to know each other – cue plot device that means that the two have to separate/have a fight/reason that they cannot be together/token ‘betting’ incident  – the problem is resolved and the film ends with the two miraculously and blissfully happy together). Having said this, sadly I am as guilty as the next twenty-something female for actually going in search of this drivel, seeking it out in times of woe, boredom and self-indulgent girlishness. But I have to ask myself why I watch these films, sometimes again and again (or a film that seems like every other one of the same ilk) when I know that they are plot-lite and cliche ridden with endlessly contrived scenarios and poorly scripted dialogue. As Ms Bullock pointed out in her conversation with Wossy, rom-coms are neither funny or romantic. Some of them barely pass as entertainment.

And I have to say that I don’t really know why I watch them, arguably wasting time (and sometimes good money) on films that I won’t remember in a month. The only reason I can think of is that they are wonderfully escapist and revel in projecting certain ideologies and approaches to life that simply wouldn’t be conducive to reality. But really there is a dark heart underneath all the airbrushed hope and happiness – these films in reality are MEANT to be all the same and to follow their barely-hidden formula. Rom-coms are there to part innocent and unsuspecting women from their money and the sad thing is that some ladies are more than happy to do it. What is worse however, is that these films seem to have an effect on more than just our wallets, as an article in this month’s Marie Claire magazine (“Are romcoms bad for your love life?”, August 2009) explores, there is substantial evidence that suggests that these types of films lead those who watch them to believe in predestined love – which can be damaging to relationship communication. In fact, a BBC News article published in December 2008 stated that psychologists at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh blame romantic comedy films for promoting unrealistic expectations of love and relationships.

So not only are these films poor and predictable, they can be damaging to our emotional and psychological well-being too.
The best advice it would seem would be to stay away from the genre, and to explore new avenues of cinematic delight.

Or, if you are glutton for punishment and in the mood for some frothy entertainment with at least a little bit of brain, seek out one of the following (which are actually decent romantic comedy titles):

Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Knocked Up (2007)
Hitch (2003)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Notting Hill (1999)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Clueless (1995)
Manhattan (1979)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)

If you want a realistic depiction of the highs and lows of relationships, try:

Annie Hall (1977)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Sex and the City (TV series)
High Fidelity (2000)

But stay well away from:

Maid in Manhattan
13 Going On 30
The Holiday
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
27 Dresses
Made of Honour
Failure to Launch
The Lake House
Two Weeks Notice
A Cinderella Story
Simply Irresistible

- the last two are absolutely AWFUL, you have been warned.

Entertainment Weekly has posted a list of “24 Rom-Com Cliches” – check it out to see how many you could live without.