"The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Especially you Jenny Beckman.
Bitch."
Perhaps one of the most welcome and endearing aspects of this quirky film is the fact that right from the outset, it is made perfectly clear that it does not have that traditional bullshit Hollywood ending that even the most enthusiastic movie fan has long since become jaded with. If nothing else, that alone serves to make it stand out from the contemporary rom-com crowd. Fortunately, however, there are many other (sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant) differences between this and your average romantic comedy. I can't exactly pin-point the specific characterisitics of the film that caused me to enjoy it so much...but all I can remember thinking through the entire 95 minute running time is that I never wanted it to end...and there honestly aren't very many movies out there that I've ever felt that way about. In fact usually it's quite the opposite. I'm often left thinking "this is good and all, but why is it two and a half hours long? I've desperately needed a piss for the last 20 minutes!"
I could sit here and attempt to analyse the film for hours on-end, but the simple fact of the matter is that it struck a chord with me, and for that reason, if no other, I feel like the movie will always be one of my favourites. With all the grace of a condor, it has literally and effortlessly swooped it's way into my top 10 movies of all time.
I think another thing that makes this little gem stand out from the crowd is the honesty in the scriptwriting. Maybe I mis-read it, or maybe I picked it up exactly the way the writer's intended it, but to me it seemed that there was nothing to confirm that either of the characters were at fault for the untimely demise of their relationship. Yeah at first you do believe that Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is to blame because she is introduced as being this cold, calculating, heartless wench...but then mere moments later, Tom (Joseph- Gordon Levitt) comes across as a jerk during an unrelentingly honest discussion with a blind date about whether or not Summer was in the wrong to end their relationship. This goes back and forth a few times to really remind us that there are two sides to every story..or rather sometimes there are three...His, hers and the truth!
The simple fact of the matter is, I'm sure that almost anyone out there who ever decides to watch this movie will be able to relate to it in some way (most likely in a big way), as I'm fairly certain that about 99% of us have found ourselves, at least once, in the position of Tom and/or Summer, and sometimes it will probably surprise you, just how much you see of yourself in the character you feel you can relate to most! I mean, we've all been here...
Only to find ourselves here shortly thereafter...
I remember reading the synopsis on the back of the dvd case for Cameron Crowe's "Singles" from 1992, which suggested that it is a movie "for anyone who's ever walked through the minefield called dating...and on occasion been blown up!" I can honestly say that since I've seen "500 Days of Summer", the torch has well and truly been passed, and THIS is now that movie, well, as far as this cat's concerned anyway.
Do yourself a favour, and go watch it if you've not seen it already.
