(500) DAYS OF SUMMER

US, 2009, 95 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Gordon Levitt, Zoe Deschanel, Chloe Grace Moretz, Geoffrey Arend.
Directed by Marc Webb

Summer is the name of the young woman at the centre of the yearnings and love of greeting-card text writer, Tom. And not all of his days are summery. Sometimes autumn, sometimes some winter chill.

A voiceover introduces us to Tom and his 500 days of love for Summer. There is a wry tone in his voice. We see a split-screen collage of Tom and Summer each growing up. We see Day 1 where Tom first sees Summer while he is in a staff meeting and she comes in, the new secretary of the boss. For him, it is love at first sight, the absolute sureness that she is the perfect woman for him, forever. We move ahead quite a number of days and find Summer suggesting they not see each other for a while. What could have gone wrong?

This toing and froing between days (signalled on screen) is how the film works. We share the lyrical days with Tom (and the director uses some nifty screen devices to indicate this, including an imagined musical dance number in the streets of LA, complete with an animate bluebird of happiness). We share the grim and depressed days with Tom, including some glum karaoke turns. We share the hopes that all will be well again as Tom is invited to a party by Summer and the screen splits again with 'expectations' subtitled on one side and 'reality' on the other – and never the twain do meet.

Zooey Deschanel glows as Summer. We see her through Tom's eyes and are charmed. We understand how he could fall in love with her, be so happy just being with her. But, we are probably doing the same thing as Tom all the time: expectations/reality. One of the reasons the film works well (especially for young adults who are idealistic about falling in love or who are sceptical that such a thing as love could exist) is the performance of Joseph Gordon Leavitt. He is more real and credible, even in his idealism, than so many of the young, good-looking types who pass through such films and pass out of our memories. He can act. He makes us see through his eyes and share his feelings. (Perhaps a female reviewer might not agree with this and might see everything through Summer's eyes: 'expectations/reality'.)

The film has a good-feeling screenplay that has its sharp moments and its crass moments but is far more forgiveable than most.

After the film is over and we have experienced Tom's life, we still need to check expectations/reality.

1. A romantic comedy with a difference? The possibilities for love? for unrequited love? Expectations and reality?

2. The American city, the young adult world, apartments, offices, restaurants, parks? The musical score? The scene of the musical number, led by Tom, in the streets of New York?

3. The title, the tone? Summer as the young woman of Tom’s dreams?

4. The structure, the initial voice-over, its tone, the list of days, the split screens for Tom and Summer growing up? The back and forth to the various days?

5. The introduction to Tom and Summer, childhood, parallels, Tom and his sister, Summer and her life?

6. Tom at work, his architecture degree, not following it up, working on greeting cards, the examples that he gave of texts, Summer as the new secretary, working with his boss?

7. Tom seeing Summer, his initial response, love, infatuation, his heart? Summer and her responses? Likeable, sharing with Tom?

8. Tom, his friends, McKenzie? and Paul, meeting with them, their advice, their perspectives on Summer? And what he should do? McKenzie? at work? Paul and his questioning? McKenzie? and is acting up, drinking, talking with Summer?

9. Tom talking with his sister, her age, her wisdom, frankness, her being a sounding board? Intercutting the narrative with his meetings with his sister?

10. The changing days, Tom and Summer, up and down, comfortable together, talking, eating, drinking, Tom revealing himself, Summer gradually rests revealing herself?

11. Tom, his love, being hurt by Summer, asking her about love, Summer and are not believing in love, wanting her autonomy? The effect on Tom – and the humour of the karaoke songs, contrasting with Summer and her singing?

12. The boss, his interest in Tom, the interview, firing him? Tom, the examples of his architecture, looking at the buildings, going back to this work?

13. Summer, her wedding, Tom hurt by her not telling him, her apology?

14. Tom having to learn, Summer amazed at his attitude?

15. The new interview, the girl waiting, the attraction, and the ironic voice-over at the end?