A Revisitation of the Cult Classic ‘500 Days of Summer’

Juliana Adams (jea74@uakron.edu) & Mikiela Grimes (mng51@uakron.edu)

Beloved by all, the 2009 movie “500 Days of Summer,” starring Zoey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt has had a newfound wave of popularity with its recent resurgence. This offbeat romantic comedy goes in depth about a passionate romantic named Tom and his 500 day rollercoaster about Summer, his coworker who believes true love is virtually nonexistent.

As their relationship begins to grow, Tom falls undeniably in love with Summer, but after she suddenly breaks up with him, he spends the remainder of his 500 days pondering and grieving what their relationship once was and could have been. As he contemplates how their relationship went awry, he finds security and happiness in the most unsuspecting of places and rediscovers himself and his passions with sporadic encounters from his beloved Summer along the way. This movie is a complete alternative to a classic love story and deviates from traditions of the romantic comedy genre.

Days of Summer is compelling and a truly individualized story which makes it one of our favorites. Its unique and life-like aspects add realism and a sense of comfort which are consistent throughout the entirety of the film. We thoroughly enjoyed this revisitation and felt a sense of connection to both Summer and Tom throughout the progression of the movie. The Screenplay of 500 Days of Summer is a standout aspect of the film. It constantly jumps back and forth on Tom and Summers' relationship. The unique storytelling adds to the complexity of the story and allows the audience to experience the highs and lows of their romance in a non-traditional way. The dialogue feels authentic and relatable with moments of humor, vulnerability and heartache, the characters' conversations are filled with constant funny banter and observations about love and life.

Another notable aspect of the film is its attention to detail. The script includes various visual and narrative techniques to enhance the storytelling. For example, the use of split screens, voice over narration and creative transitions between scenes, it adds visual interest and helps convey the characters emotions and inner thoughts effectively. Furthermore, the screenplay successfully explores the theme of love, expectations and the complexities of modern relationships, into goes into the idea of idealized love versus the actually reality of relationships, challenging the traditional romantic trope, the script represents a realistic version of the ups and downs of love, making it relatable to all ages. In conclusion 500 Days of Summer is a captivating romantic comedy-drama that we can all agree that we love.