(500) Days of Summer (2009)

(500) Days of Summer is an absolutely sweet, quirky indie-style romantic comedy with lots of great laughs. I sat in an opening-weekend arthouse audience that peeled with laughter frequently. The story's premise might be called The Time Traveler's Girlfriend With Benefits because the narrative ricochets wildly across 500 days that encompass the quizzical romantic relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel). If you think a normal linear relationship has its ups and downs then try one examined through a timeline that zigs and zags back and forth in its exposition by one day to handfuls or dozens of days at a time. (No actual time travel is involved.) It's all good though and quite captivating. Zooey plays the same character that seems to be her stock in trade: the quirky, laissez-faire slacker girl who's too cute to ignore. She's so laidback you'd think she's medicated -- so it should come as no surprise to Tom that she's an I-can-take-you-or-leave-you kinda gal. He, on the other hand, has these bleary puppy-dog eyes that can show an impressive range of emotion. Frankly, it's not too clear to me whether he's interested in her because she's actually worth it or he just doesn't have other prospects. (I think she might be "worth it" but then he's no player. I'm just saying: Doesn't finding a keeper presume there were other choices?) Love doesn't need logic, of course -- in fact, sometimes it just kicks it to the curb and goes woo-hoo (or wants to) -- so this tale of Summer love makes a great postmodern (if one-sided) love story for the summer season (or any time of the year). Great soundtrack! 4.5 stars.