WARNING; SPOILERS AHEAD

I hate Summer. 

I hate her crooked teeth. 

I hate her 1960’s haircut. 

I hate her knobby knees. 

                                                                                                                  And yet despite this fact, I love her.

(500) Days of Summer is a late 2000s film, written and directed by Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, and Marc Webb. It stars the famous Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as two office coworkers, in downtown Los Angeles, who are working out their not-so-smooth relationship. Through the 500 days of his relationship with Summer Finn, Tom reflects on his past actions and decisions, seeking to win over the heart of the woman he longs for.

The movie begins with the introduction of Tom, a copywriter for a greeting card company. Tom is a man who believes he will never be pleased unless he finds “the one” for him. However, all his past thoughts are quickly forgotten after his boss introduces him to the new, radiant secretary who has caught his eye, Summer. 

Contrary to Tom’s beliefs, Summer says, “There is no such thing as love. It’s fantasy.” This famous quote gives the audience an idea of the two characters’ values concerning love. In addition, the movie’s narrator directly states that “this is not a love story,” hinting at the couple’s destiny.

On his way to work, Tom and Summer exchange their mutual love for the Smiths, a scene that has gone viral on social media after Summer’s popular line, “I love the Smiths.” This only leads Tom to admire Summer from afar, before he attempts to spark up casual conversations to build a stable friendship. Throughout their work life, Tom and Summer face many opportunities that lead them to dates, intimacy, and arguments that have a long-lasting toll on them and their relationship.

This incredible film is seen through Tom’s perspective, causing viewers often to perceive Summer as the story’s true villain and fail to recognize Tom’s past mistakes. It shows that, even though what Tom and Summer have going on may not work out in the end, sympathizing with this hopeless couple, and understanding their situation, illustrates the truth that love is often complicated.

The main reason why this movie is so enjoyable is due to the way it portrays true love. The relationship between Tom and Summer may seem perfect at first glance, but many people might miss the tiny details that contribute to the story’s climax. People often make assumptions about relationships that they know nothing about, and they may wonder how that “perfect couple” could choose to separate

The cinematography in (500) Days of Summer spreads a warm, autumn feeling, which is great for relaxation days. It switches throughout the year’s four seasons while still maintaining that warm, neutral color palette, making the film more relatable to the public.

The performances by Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are both phenomenal. They successfully blended into their characters’ roles, captivating the viewers with their realistic emotional representation. Their awkwardness and admiration throughout the movie make it feel less like a fictional story, and more like the viewer is experiencing a conflict between two complicated adults.

Overall, (500) Days of Summer is a well-loved movie about the complications that come with love, making it relatable to most watchers. It depicts a couple with completely different values on love, including the many conflicts the protagonists try to solve to keep their relationship as stable as possible, which keeps the viewer’s attention throughout. I recommend this movie if you’re looking for an easy-paced love story, along with many other amazing movies, such as La La Land and The Notebook.