It kinds of pains me to say this, but I have a special feeling for a select few romantic comedies, particularly ones that fall into the category of "chick flicks." Legally Blonde is one. Mean Girls, I suppose, would count. And the one that pains me the most, because it is so cheesy and weepy, Where the Heart Is. There, I said it.Well, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Luckily, (500) Days of Summer, a film Kinsey and I saw this weekend, isn't as thoroughly lowbrow as the previously mentioned movies. The concept seems to be (guy meets girl, cheesy jokes, a large quantity of quirk) but this film is very self-aware and, when taken in context, all these rom-com cliches come together in a highly entertaining movie watching experience.
Early on, the film introduces us to Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Summer (pun!) played by Zooey Deschanel. They both work at a greeting card company and the film takes us on a non-linear ride of their 500 day relationship, showing their good times, bad times, and how they fall apart.
As Kinsey said as we were leaving the theater, (500) Days of Summer is really an amalgam of a bunch of different stuff we've already seen in other movies. There's talking head interviews, split screens, winking at the camera, a dance sequence in the park, the advice-giving little sister, really nothing that we haven't seen before. But you have to give credit to first time director Marc Webb for being able to bring all this together into something entertaining.
The real strong point of the film is the two leads. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel really bring a sizzle to their on-screen relationship and are definitely two actors who I would love to see play opposite each other again. Gordon-Levitt especially is an actor who draws me to any movie he's in (but will that entice me to see him as Cobra Commander in the new G.I. Joe film? no, probably not).
Overall, (500) Days of Summer is a really good if not great film. It definitely had me laughing.
Wade: 4/5 stars
Kinsey: 4/5 stars
YAY! I am so glad you guys liked it!! I was thinking if they hate it, I have definetly LOST my touch and feel for movies.
ReplyDeleteI just signed up for netflix after not having it for two years...suggestions on movies I may have missed out?! I added the ones you put on your latest blog...