You know those movies that just stick with you? The ones that you find yourself thinking about days, weeks, even years after you’ve watched them? For me, “500 Days of Summer” is one of those films. I stumbled upon it during a late-night channel surf back in college, and man, am I glad I did.
First things first, if you haven’t seen it (where have you been?), this isn’t your typical boy-meets-girl rom-com. Nope, this is boy-meets-girl, boy-falls-head-over-heels, girl… well, doesn’t. And that’s what makes it so damn relatable.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, an aspiring architect stuck in a job writing greeting cards (side note: is that not the most millennial job ever?). Enter Zooey Deschanel as Summer, the free-spirited new girl at the office who catches Tom’s eye. What follows is 500 days of their relationship, told in a non-linear fashion that somehow manages to be both confusing and perfectly clear at the same time.
Here’s the thing about this movie – it’s brutally honest. It doesn’t sugar-coat the messy parts of relationships or try to wrap everything up in a neat little bow. Instead, it shows us the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of falling in and out of love.
I remember watching it for the first time and feeling like someone had reached into my brain and put my thoughts on the screen. That scene where Tom attends Summer’s party, and it shows his expectations vs. reality side by side? Oof. Talk about a gut punch. We’ve all been there, right? Building up a moment in our heads only to have reality come crashing down around us.
But what really got me about this film was how it challenged the whole idea of “the one.” Tom spends most of the movie convinced that Summer is his soulmate, the girl he’s meant to be with. And the movie does such a great job of pulling you into his perspective that you start to believe it too. Then BAM! Reality check.
It’s a wake-up call, really. A reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we want someone to be “the one,” they’re just… not. And that’s okay. It doesn’t make the time you spent together any less meaningful or important.
I’ve probably watched this movie a dozen times now, and each viewing brings something new. In my early 20s, I was Team Tom all the way. Now, pushing 30, I find myself understanding Summer a bit more. Funny how perspective changes, huh?
One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is my appreciation for the film’s soundtrack. Seriously, if you haven’t given it a listen, do yourself a favor and queue it up. The Smiths, Regina Spektor, Feist – it’s like a hipster’s dream playlist (and I mean that in the best way possible).
In the end, “500 Days of Summer” isn’t just a movie about a relationship. It’s about growth, self-discovery, and learning to see the world – and yourself – a little differently. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the happy ending isn’t getting the girl (or guy). Sometimes, it’s realizing that you were okay on your own all along.
So here’s to “500 Days of Summer,” a love story that isn’t a love story. If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for? And if you have, maybe it’s time for a rewatch. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself humming “You Make My Dreams Come True” for the next week straight.
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