The Cat's Meow Movie Critic
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"(500) DAYS OF SUMMER"(09)...A

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"(500) DAYS OF SUMMER"(09) ... Every once in a while I see a movie that just charms my socks off, and this is a perfect example of that kind of movie. You can have all of your big budget summer blockbuster movies if every once in a while I can have the unmitigated joy of seeing a movie like "(500) Days of Summer," a small independent film beautifully written by Scott Neustadter and Michael W. Weber and wonderfully directed by Marc Webb.


Seeing this movie was an absolute joy with its inventive love story told in multiple flashbacks to critical days in a romantic relationship. The back and forth editing of the plot line always kept me a little off base as to where this relationship was going to go. The two principals are Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levtt) and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). That's right, SUMMER Finn, for this film is named after the lead character played by Zooey Deschanel and not for the season, which is why there might be some initial confusion over the title. Summers don't last that long, but the film's title implies or defines what turns out to be the length of Tom Hansen's eventually bittersweet romance with Summer. 


Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a former child actor and he is immensely likable in his role as Tom Hansen. The always likable Zooey Deschanel has been around for a while in art house films, but here she excels as a romantic shooting star who is just effervescent in her role. The choice of these two actors as the romantic leads is just pitch perfect. 


I can see why Tom fell in love with Summer at first sight. I did too. Zooey Deschanel plays her role with a whimsical sweetness and naiveté as a woman who does not believe in love when all the the men in her life most certainly do as soon as they lay their eyes on her. And none more so than the suddenly besotted Tom Hansen. Here is a music video that was released to promote the film:


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/500-days-of-summer-director-marc-webb-.html


Tom is the lead writer for a small greeting card company and one day Summer shows up for work as the assistant to the President. The word soon gets around that she doesn't believe in romance, but an office party at a karaoke bar starts their relationship off as "just friends," mind you. He promises never to fall in love, but of course he already has. 


This film is nearly perfect except for one or two missing lines of dialogue that I wish had been expressed at the end. Friends and lovers deserve at least the courtesy of an explanation, and not enough of one was offered as to why a different choice was made. With that small caveat made, this is what film making should be about. Take my advice and do NOT miss seeing this film while it is still in theaters. This might be the best money that you will spend all summer long at the multiplex. See SUMMER this summer! (A, See It, Rent It, Buy It!)