Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel Connect in ‘(500) Days of Summer’

CHICAGO – Romantic comedies have been so sanitized, obviously for the protection of the movie consumer, that it is refreshing to meet a reality-based couple as they interact, co-mingle, love and clash in “(500) Days of Summer.”

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Summer is actually the name of the woman in the relationship, played by Zooey Deschanel. She is a co-worker of Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) at a greeting card company, where they meet cute after Summer admires Tom’s taste in music.

An office karaoke party is the next step in their coming together, with hints and flirtations becoming into a more subsistent intermingling. And so begins their excursion as a couple for 500 days.

The film uses a technique that skips from day-to-day, never in order (Day 6 might be followed by Day 438), as the dynamics of the romance play out through the various stages of the couple’s emotional interaction. Tom remains the hopeful optimist about the pairing throughout, while it is obvious that Summer has a distinctly different viewpoint.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “(500) Days of Summer” review.

One of 500: Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Summer and Tom in ‘(500) Days of Summer’ Photo credit: TM & © 2008 Chuck Zlotnick for Fox Searchlight Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “(500) Days of Summer” review.