“500 Days of Summer” is debatably a rom-com. I would say that this movie offers a genuinely honest and broad perspective on love, debatably. It shows Tom, a hopeless romantic, and Summer, a complex individual who does not believe in love or traditional relationships.
This movie starts with the narrator saying, “This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.“ Although the narrator states this at the beginning, I, while watching, still became attached to the characters, hoping it would, in fact, be a love story. I am sure other viewers also did the same thing. That is a positive aspect of this movie, though, because the storyline and acting are so good that it makes me want to forget about the inevitable ending.
Their story starts when Summer gets a job at the L.A. greeting card company where he works. Tom falls for her, and while she also falls for him, she makes it clear that she does not want a serious relationship. Tom is caught up in the hope of it all anyway, until it falls apart, and he is left wondering how and why they ended.
This story is told by bouncing from moment to moment, recounting the days he has spent with her. The way the writers set this up really shows the highs and lows of their relationship. Eventually, Tom comes to accept their ending when Summer finds someone who changes her perspective and she can settle down with. After Tom comes to his acceptance, he finds his own way and lives out his once far dreams.
His decision to let go shows that moving on from what has hurt can sometimes lead to surprising peace.
Overall, I think this movie is well-made and offers a more realistic portrayal of relationships. However, if I were to make any changes, I would give the viewers more insight into Summer’s perspective.