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Movies / Upcoming / 500 Days of Summer
500 Days of Summer

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500 Days of Summer (2009)

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Reviews Counted:185

Fresh:161

Rotten:24

Average Rating:7.6/10

Consensus: A clever, offbeat romantic comedy, 500 Days of Summer is refreshingly honest and utterly charming.

Australian Rating: M [See Full Rating] Infrequent coarse language

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
Oct 1, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $32,118,648

Synopsis: Fans of HIGH FIDELITY and ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND will be charmed by this quirky film that sheds a linear plot in favor of a memory-driven look at a failed romance. Joseph... Fans of HIGH FIDELITY and ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND will be charmed by this quirky film that sheds a linear plot in favor of a memory-driven look at a failed romance. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (BRICK) stars as Tom, a greeting-card writer who dreams of becoming an architect and finding his true love. Zooey Deschanel (THE HAPPENING) plays Summer, a vintage-looking beauty whose ideas about love are entirely modern. As Tom remembers his 500 days with Summer, his mind jumps from moment to moment, largely thinking of the good times in their trouble-filled relationship. Indie darlings Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are perfectly cast in this sweet, funny film that infuses the typical romantic tropes with reality. Anyone else would have caused audiences to hate Summer, but Deschanel is adorable enough that she still endears herself to viewers. Arthouse favorite Gordon-Levitt hasn’t played a traditional romantic lead since 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU in 1999, but here he proves equally adept at portraying Tom’s sweetness and his neuroses. Music-video director Marc Webb makes his feature debut with (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, and it’s easy to see influences of his past work. The soundtrack boasts songs from Regina Spektor, Doves, Feist, Wolfmother, and, of course, The Smiths, the band that brings the couple together. Webb also adds an innovative style to the dramedy, combining a naturalistic look at love with a non-linear plot, animated vignettes, and a triumphant musical sequence. The film’s mixture of cynicism and romance makes it perfect viewing for happy couples, the recently dumped, and the hopeful singles in the audience. [More]

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly, Matthew Gray Gubler, Rachel Boston, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz

Director: Marc Webb

Director: Marc Webb
Screenwriter: Scott Neustadter, Michael Weber
Producer: Mark Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, Mason Novick, Steven J. Wolfe
Composer: Mychael Danna, Rob Simonsen
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for 500 Days of Summer

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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Despite the tricky punctuation, (500) Days of Summer might be the most truthful rom-com about the sort of people you're likely to know; not inhabitants of some movie version of Fairyland.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
09/16/09
Des Partridge
Des Partridge
Courier Mail (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A true re-invention of the romantic comedy genre for a male skewed audience, complete with realistic lead characters and hilarious insight.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
09/15/09
Colin Fraser
Colin Fraser
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Heartbreak is rarely enjoyable, but in this case, it's very easy company -- as are Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine Australasia | comment Comment
09/13/09
Rod Yates
Rod Yates
Empire Magazine Australasia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Charm effuses from this quirky love story in which fate, coincidence, dreams, expectations and reality are chaotically intertwined.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
09/07/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It offers us the kind of friendship that comes with a brilliant soundtrack, a story with a solid mixture of fantasy and truth, and the bolstering sort of hopefulness that we might, by accident, fall into a version of its world someday.

Full Review Source: Time Out Sydney | comment Comment
06/19/09
Millie Stein
Millie Stein
Time Out Sydney
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

At last, here's a movie that takes the wimpy, tortured, hopelessly-in-love boys from the other movies and tells them to grow up.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
11/24/09
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

This is a story that most people can probably relate to, unless you are one of those lucky people never to have been on the losing end of the game of love.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
10/29/09
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Le tout est exécuté avec un tel enthousiasme que nous ne pouvons que nous laisser emporter par cette vague on ne peut plus rafraîchissante, et surtout profondément désarmante.

Full Review Source: Panorama | comment Comment
10/12/09
Jean-François Vandeuren
Jean-François Vandeuren
Panorama

a nicely played but all-too-preciously eccentric romance

Full Review Source: Cinema Writer | comment Comment
09/20/09
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer

500 Days of Summer never quite convinces, despite the charm of the leads. This is wannabe indie, and these two Hollywood names are too 'big' to play beautiful nobodies navigating a heart-wrenching misunderstanding.

Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment 4 Comments
09/17/09
Jason Di Rosso
Jason Di Rosso
MovieTime, ABC Radio National
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

(500) Days of Summer is a classic independent film, taking a bunch of risks and trying to break as many rules as possible, yet it is in many ways a traditional ode to love, and it will leave you yearning for the opportunity to be dumped yourself.

Full Review Source: smh.com.au | comment Comment
09/16/09
Giles Hardie
Giles Hardie
smh.com.au
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Tom is a prime example of what happens when you grow up listening to too much sad British pop music: unrealistic expectations for romantic love and a taste for skinny ties and sweater vests. Now he's fallen, and fallen hard, for Summer. How could he not?

Full Review Source: Florida Times-Union | comment Comment
09/10/09
Matt Soergel
Matt Soergel
Florida Times-Union

Charming yet brutally honest..offers a certain mainstream appeal for anyone who's experienced love's thorny and persuasive illusions.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
09/08/09
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Too timid to be truly cynical about love and too eager for box-office success to try to be a really new kind of romantic comedy, the film fails the ultimate romantic-comedy test: not only does it lack enough laughs, but you’re never emotionally involved.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment 13 Comments
09/07/09
Cosmo Landesman
Cosmo Landesman
Sunday Times (UK)

Highly recommended either to enjoy as a couple or wallow in alone.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
09/07/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Director Marc Webb's debut feature is as far from a Sandra Bullock or Hugh Grant vehicle as you can imagine. What better reason to go see it? From start to end his subtle movie feather-teases your funny spots: it amazes, refreshes and it delights.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
09/05/09
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext

Perfectly played, simultaneously serious and light, endlessly inventive, this is a strong contender for the most original date movie of the year. (Terrific) stuff.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/04/09
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If it just misses being this generation’s ‘Annie Hall’, it’s still deliciously refreshing, sweet and fizzy. A sherbet dip of a movie.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
09/04/09
Trevor Johnston
Trevor Johnston
Time Out

A new take on romantic comedy that doesn't quite live up to its ambitions.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/04/09
Hannah Forbes Black
Hannah Forbes Black
Channel 4 Film

It is hardly the freshest romantic comedy of the past 20 years. Taking the best bits from other movies and rearranging them in a non-linear sequence does not make for an original film.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
09/04/09
Toby Young
Toby Young
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for 500 Days of Summer

September 16, 2009: Total Recall: Offbeat Romantic Comedies
This week's (500) Days of Summer isn't the first film to mess with our rom-com expectations. So, to mark its release, we've gathered together what we think are 10 of the most... More...

August 03, 2009: New Jesus Christ Superstar On the Horizon? Opens in new window
According to the Risky Biz Blog's sources, Universal is "in active development" on a "Jesus Christ Superstar" remake -- with "(500) Days of Summer" director Marc Webb at the helm. More...

July 16, 2009: Critics Consensus: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is Certified Fresh
This week at the movies marks the return of the young wizards of Hogwarts with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. How does the... More...

July 10, 2009: New: All Clips and the Film's Trailer. Opens in new window
More...

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