Analyzing The Movie '500 Days Of Summer'
Celeste Davis
Mr. Barham
Adv. Hon English 1: 5th Period
6 Feb 2016
500 Days of Summer Shines Bright
Despite the title, (500) Days of Summer is not about a sunny romance, as the film opens with the statement “This is not a love story. But, rather, a story about what love can do to you” (Douthat). The film demonstrates what relationships are truly like. The story begins with sappy romantic Tom, a greeting card writer, and his love interest Summer, who has been burned once to many times by love’s ways to truly believe in love anymore, much to Tom’s dismay. Throughout this movie Tom does whatever it take to get Summer to fall in love with him, until he realizes the most important thing about love is finding someone who loves him just as much as he does. 500 Days of Summer is a refreshingly new take on the typical rom- com genre with assistance from the exceptional cast, unique cinematography, …show more content…
However. Marc Webb, director of 500 Days of Summer, decides the typical formula for romantic comedies is too often dry, fake and unrealistic. Webb decided to create a film that accurately captures the phases of love’s different stages. (qtd. in McCarthy, 12) The order of scenes has been widely critiqued by critics that Webb’s non-chronological sequence is “forcing depth.” (Keen). However, Tom remembers his love for Summer, as a series of joys and arguments, which makes her even better in Tom’s eyes. Steve Persall, critic for the Tampa Bay Times, comments that “the ability of the directors to juxtapose moments like first kiss to first fight within minutes works. The film speaks to our weaknesses in the rawest form.” The film is definitely realistic in the emotional sense of love, and many who have had relationships that have struggled will enjoy this movie. The cliché “it’s not you, it’s me” attitude is portrayed, but Webb organizes the film so fluidly the themes aren’t boring and stand out
Mr. Barham
Adv. Hon English 1: 5th Period
6 Feb 2016
500 Days of Summer Shines Bright
Despite the title, (500) Days of Summer is not about a sunny romance, as the film opens with the statement “This is not a love story. But, rather, a story about what love can do to you” (Douthat). The film demonstrates what relationships are truly like. The story begins with sappy romantic Tom, a greeting card writer, and his love interest Summer, who has been burned once to many times by love’s ways to truly believe in love anymore, much to Tom’s dismay. Throughout this movie Tom does whatever it take to get Summer to fall in love with him, until he realizes the most important thing about love is finding someone who loves him just as much as he does. 500 Days of Summer is a refreshingly new take on the typical rom- com genre with assistance from the exceptional cast, unique cinematography, …show more content…
However. Marc Webb, director of 500 Days of Summer, decides the typical formula for romantic comedies is too often dry, fake and unrealistic. Webb decided to create a film that accurately captures the phases of love’s different stages. (qtd. in McCarthy, 12) The order of scenes has been widely critiqued by critics that Webb’s non-chronological sequence is “forcing depth.” (Keen). However, Tom remembers his love for Summer, as a series of joys and arguments, which makes her even better in Tom’s eyes. Steve Persall, critic for the Tampa Bay Times, comments that “the ability of the directors to juxtapose moments like first kiss to first fight within minutes works. The film speaks to our weaknesses in the rawest form.” The film is definitely realistic in the emotional sense of love, and many who have had relationships that have struggled will enjoy this movie. The cliché “it’s not you, it’s me” attitude is portrayed, but Webb organizes the film so fluidly the themes aren’t boring and stand out