500 Days of Summer (2009)

* * * *

A nicely quirky rom-com with an equally quirky cast of characters. It can be genuinely funny and touching at times however there are a few too many cliché couple googoo eyes and ‘cute’ moments.

Marc Webb (the director) adds extra depth to this traditional genre by using creative and unique techniques. There are several wonderful scenes, such as the musical number and the expectation/reality scene, which help to make this film stand out from other rom-coms. Normally this genre panders to young teens and couples however this one was more creative and unexpected making it a good film, not just a good rom-com.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (playing Tom) and his friends are likeable and the audience can empathise with Gordon-Levitt’s character in low and high points. However he is slightly over romantic to a point of pathetically adorable and this makes Zooey Deschanel’s character (Summer) is less likeable. Their relationship, although over-romanticised, is sweet and believable but I believe 90% of the audience would be rooting for Tom.