This weeks movie brings love, hope, and heartache; but mostly, heartache.

I want you to imagine that you are sitting at home, on your comfy couch, and you just put in this amazing movie, (500) Days of Summer. You’re eating your delicious, buttery, and radioactive (Because it’s microwaved) popcorn while the credits roll. After that, the narrator (Yes, there is a narrator. But, it helps the story. It doesn’t ruin it) tells you:

“This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.”

That’s kind of a bummer, isn’t it: going into a movie and expecting a love story, then being told it isn’t?

Wrong! No matter what this movie tells you, and no matter what the critics tell you, this is a love story. It just isn’t the formulated, wrapped in a silver box love story.

What is love without heartache? And how can you experience new love without some heartache?

I’ll let you think about it for a second. I’ll just go get a soda.

Alright. I’m back. You ready?

You’re right! You need heartache to experience love; and you need love to experience heartache. Well, this is what 500 Days of Summer is about!

So, in a twisted, yet logical way, it is a love story.

Tom, played brilliantly by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is a twenty-something, unsatisfied with his job as a greeting card writer. The object of his affections is Summer (Do you get the play on words in the title, now?), played by Zooey Deschanel who is a self-proclaimed non-believer in the “theory of love.”

The story of their relationship is dictated by certain events, rather than just a linear story-line (a.k.a There is a bit of a back and forth thing going on). This is on account of seeing this relationship through Tom’s eyes. Of course, he is not going to remember all the things that led up to the distress in their relationship, so to expect that is ridiculous (I’m talking to you, negative movie critic’s).

(500) Days of Summer, I believe, is a more of a realistic look into the contemporary world of relationships, rather than those stereotypical romantic comedies that follow the same pattern. This movie is an inventive and charming way to tell a story that everyone can relate to.

It is also accompanied by a downright perfect soundtrack (So perfect and amazing, in fact, that you can look forward to a special Press Play Tuesday tomorrow).

I think a couple of sequences in the film (No major spoilers) are worth noting. The first, is a split-screen scene that is something that we all can relate to; the idea of expectation vs. reality. Nothing ever goes the way we want it, and this sequence points it out so creatively and intelligently.

The next scene takes place after Tom and Summer’s first night together. A musical montage set to Hall & Oates You Make My Dreams. I’ll let it speak for itself.

(500) Days of Summer is a delightful story about fate, love, heartache, and the realization that no matter what, there is always hope.

Movie Rating: A-

See you tomorrow with a special edition of Press Play Friday on Tuesday (I know, it’s confusing)! – Kim

Have you seen (500) Days of Summer? Did you love it? Hate it? Do you have any movie recommendations for me? Tell me in the comments!

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