An Opening That Hooks You Right Away
500 Days of Summer opens with a narration that straight up says, "This is not a love story." Whoa, that immediately made me curious! The story is about Tom Hansen (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a romantic guy who works at a greeting card company, who falls in love with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), his cute but mysterious coworker. The film isn't told in chronological order; it jumps around from day to day over the 500 days of their relationship from day 1 to day 500. It's like flashbacks and flashforwards that make the story feel like an emotional puzzle. At first, we see Tom heartbroken, but then it jumps to their first meeting in the office elevator, where they chat about favorite music like The Smiths. As a beginner, this non-linear storytelling was a bit confusing at first, but it actually made it exciting as everything gradually unfolded.
A Story Full of Mixed Emotions (Spoiler Alert!)
Now, let's dive into the story in more detail. The film follows Tom's journey as a hopeless romantic who believes Summer is "the one" for him, while Summer is more free spirited and doesn't believe in true love. The story starts on Day 1: Tom meets Summer at the office, and he's immediately interested. But the first iconic scene that makes this film memorable is the elevator moment. Tom is riding the elevator alone, wearing headphones and blasting "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths at full volume. Suddenly, Summer enters the elevator and hears the music leaking out. She immediately says, "I love The Smiths!" with a big smile. Tom is shocked and says, "Sorry?" Summer repeats, "I said I love The Smiths. You have good taste in music." Tom pulls off his headphones and says, "You like the Smiths?" Then Summer sings the lyrics: "To die by your side, well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine." Tom smiles in surprise, and that moment makes him feel like it's a "sign from fate" because their music tastes match. For me, this scene made me smile wide because it feels like a romantic meet-cute in movies, but with a realistic touch that makes it relatable.
A few weeks later, at a karaoke bar with coworkers, they talk about love Tom believes in it completely, but Summer says she doesn't. Tom's friend accidentally spills that Tom likes Summer, and the next day in the copy room, Summer suddenly kisses Tom! They start a casual relationship, with Summer saying she doesn't want anything serious, but Tom agrees even though deep down he hopes for more.
Their relationship develops sweetly at first: They stroll around the city, play pretend as a married couple in IKEA, and even have their first intimate moment. Tom is over the moon, to the point where there's a scene of him dancing in the street and singing like in a musical! But eventually, conflicts arise. At a bar, a guy flirts with Summer, Tom gets angry and punches the guy, they fight, and end up in a big argument. Summer is mad because Tom is acting like a possessive boyfriend, while Tom says their relationship is more than just friends. They make up, and Summer shares her past, including bisexual experiences and previous relationships.
Unfortunately, the relationship starts to crack. They watch The Graduate together, and Summer cries at the end a moment that confuses Tom. Then, at a pancake restaurant, Summer suddenly breaks up with Tom, saying she's not happy anymore. Tom is devastated; he smashes plates in his apartment, and his friends and little sister try to comfort him. Tom falls into deep depression, his work suffers, and his boss moves him to the sympathy card division because his writing turns negative.
A few months later, Tom runs into Summer at a coworker's wedding. They spend the weekend together, dance romantically, and Summer invites Tom to a party at her apartment. Tom hopes they can get back together, but at the party, he sees Summer wearing an engagement ring! It turns out Summer is engaged to someone else. Tom is crushed again; he gets drunk, stays home for days eating junk food and drinking alcohol. When he returns to work, he rants in a meeting, saying the company sells fake dreams about love, and then quits.
Tom slowly starts to heal. His sister tells him he only remembers the good moments and forgets the signs that Summer wasn't serious. Tom realizes this, focuses on his dream of becoming an architect, makes a portfolio, and goes for job interviews. On Day 482, he meets Summer again at his favorite bench in the city. Summer tells him she's married now because she felt "certain" with her husband, something she never felt with Tom. Tom finally accepts it, though it hurts.
The story closes on Day 500: Tom is at a job interview and meets a new girl named Autumn who likes the same city spot. The screen says "Day 1" making me think this is a new beginning for Tom! As a beginner viewer, this story stirred up mixed emotions: funny, romantic, but also sad and realistic. It made me reflect on how our own expectations can cause heartbreak.
Characters That Feel Real
I really love the character development in this film. Tom is the type of hopeless romantic who always hopes too high, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays him so naturally I could see his disappointed expressions that made my heart ache too. Summer, on the other hand, is an independent woman who's honest about her feelings, even if she seems cold at times. Zooey Deschanel fits the role perfectly, with a mysterious smile that makes Tom (and me as a viewer) fall for her. There are also supporting characters like Tom's little but wise sister, or his friends who give funny advice. For me, who's just a casual enjoyer, their acting feels alive and makes me believe this is a real people's story, not just a movie.
Visuals and Music That Bring Nostalgia
I don't know much about cinematography or film techniques, but I can say the visuals in 500 Days of Summer are cool with its indie style. There's a split-screen scene showing "expectations vs reality" that amazed me simple but effective, like when Tom imagines Summer's party will be romantic, but reality is different. Bright colors in happy moments and darker ones in sad times make the atmosphere feel right.
The music is top-notch too! The soundtrack is full of indie songs like from The Smiths or Regina Spektor that make the film feel fresh and nostalgic. I got chills hearing those songs, especially in the spontaneous dance scene in the park it made me want to rewind!
Why I Think This Movie Is Great
I enjoying this films, I like 500 Days of Summer because the story is realistic and makes you think about love. This film doesn't have a typical happy ending; instead, it teaches that sometimes our own hopes are what cause pain. Even though there are some slower parts, I couldn't stop watching because I was curious about the ending. It's a movie that made me smile, laugh, and feel sad all at once perfect for those wanting a light story with depth.
For those of you who like romantic films, comedies, or stories about human relationships, I think this movie is a great fit. Even if you're not too knowledgeable about films like me, you can still enjoy the story because it's presented in a fun and uncomplicated way.
Conclusion
500 Days of Summer is a unique and touching rom-com that made me, as a beginner viewer, fall in love with the story. It's not just about love, but also about learning from failure and moving on. I can't wait to rewatch this film someday, or maybe look for similar movies to learn more about the genre!
If you've watched it, what's your opinion on this movie? Or, if you haven't, what makes you curious to watch it? Write in the comments, yeah!
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