500 Days of Summer

A screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.  The film immediately starts with a narrative voice that states, "This is not a love story."  Ok, we get it.  Another rom-com yearning to be an "anti-Hollywood rom-rom"  by trying desperately for the next two hours to achieve "indie-quirkiness" with brown lighting, a quirky leading man (very un-Matt McConaughey per say), a leading lady wearing quirky wardrobe and an alternative off-beat soundtrack. 

However, rest aside its constant attempt for indie-underground status, the film backs itself up with two credible characters - an idealistic romantic named Tom (played by child turned adult actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and a free spirit who believes true love doesn't exist, Summer (played by Zooey Deschanel), who meet while both working at a greeting card company.  The two contrasting point of veiws on love makes for good chemistry, drama and conflict.  Also, the film's premise that love cannot be contrived, but may come when you find true happiness within yourself, realistically represents the outlook of today's youth of post-divorced parents.

The film presents a lot of unique visual cinematic art (something we don't see a lot these days after a slew of Judd Apatow films), i.e., a fantasy sequence that breaks out into a musical dance number of  "You Make My Dreams" by Hall n Oats (one of my faves), each scene being numbered by one of the 500 days it takes place in the relationship.

Natural dialogue, honest performances, light-hearted humor, an ending with a sweet twist... I can't pinpoint anything outlandishly wrong with this film.  However, something is still lacking for me.  I discovered I'm more of a "Hollywood feature rom-com" type of girl.  I'm into the glitz and glamour, the perfect lighting, the non-alternative ballad, "Journey-type" soundtrack.  Bring on the cheese for me!  Bring on the predictibility that these two people WILL end up together!  And most of all, bring back the happily ever after...(I think that's what my problem is).