(500) Days of Summer: Movie Review

I enjoyed the film. It's nothing amazing, but definitely worth a viewing. The acting is solid throughout the movie. I found it very easy to relate to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character's plight. Unfortunately, I am becoming increasingly annoyed with Zooey Deschanel the more I see her. The plot was interesting enough to hold my attention -- I suppose that's all that matters these days.

Most surprising about this film was its non-linear presentation. Very similar to Slaughter House V: this movie jumps back and forth to different points in time. Honestly, I didn't believe the style would hold up for a love story, but it did.

So, the quiet and artsy Joseph Gordon-Levitt falls for the edgy Zooey Deschanel. It's a formula I see popping up more and more in film. Gordon-Levitt is the guy who believes in fate and that everything happens for a reason. As an added twist to this he believes Deschanel is the girl he was put on Earth to be with. He is a wreck through most of the movie, which would be really depressing if it weren't for his constant taking of advice from his 11-or-so year old sister who is more of an adult than he is.

In typical Deschanel fashion, she sees the world in the complete opposite way. She believes in random chances and encounters. To meet and oppose Gordon-Levitt's "one mate for life" view, Deschanel doesn't even believe in love. Wow. The two eventually get together and go on these quasi-date things, but Deschanel never really commits to the relationship.

Inevitably, Gordon-Levitt gets his heart broken because Deschanel is just too cool for school (which she warns him of several times). The film then becomes about Gordon-Levitt trying to re-win the gal's heart with each failed attempt upsetting him further.

The third act is where the story gets somewhat ridiculous, and I didn't buy it. I won't go into details but the ending nearly ruined the film in my opinion. It rebounds literally within the last minute. As I said above, it's worth a viewing. There are a few good laughs, and plenty of sad feelings for our male lead, but that's how love goes.