Quirky but enjoyable

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2012)

If you like romantic comedies, this is an unusual take on standard themes. It employs jumbled-up flashbacks, along with many other techniques, to describe the ups and downs of a young man's 500-day love affair with a girl. It quickly becomes apparent that he is head-over-heels, but she is somewhat cool and unwilling to commit herself to a full-on relationship, though she also likes him a lot. She is quite selfish really. Much of the movie's charm comes from the contrast between his puppy-dog eagerness, and her enigmatic aloofness. She is brilliantly played by Zooey Deschamel, I defy any guy not to fall in love with this girl. The male character played by Joeseph Gordon Levitt (3rd rock from the sun), has to endure a lot of frustration and sadness; however the film never loses its light, playful, upbeat character.