Coincidence, Fate, and Music

Rating: 9/10 (30 August 2009)

It's the story of a couple who appears predestined to have the best of everything, presented in one of the most challenging ways possible, with a terrific selection of pop tunes, and two of the most appealing actors out there. In the end, a very enjoyable film, with more to it than it seems.
We have seen several of this type of movie come out in the last few years, exploring the relationship between adolescents/young adults. Some have cleverly integrated humor, some exciting tunes, and a couple of clever twists to the same old story. Here, we are given plenty of charm, through its two amazing leads, combining good, realistic dialog, with tributes to the old films, where falling in love was enough to set off fireworks, spontaneous dancing, and well, at times, some slapstick. Also, there are tributes to some of the most "romantic" films out there, where people sit on benches at stare at the newly found beauty of their surroundings while in their romantic bliss. Yet, there are also warnings about the whole, silly thing along the way.
There is pain and joy, love and hate, disappointment, bitterness, cynicism, and plenty of emotions going around in this film. There is enough to give even the smallest speaking part a great line. It is a terrific little movie that move us and makes us think, that can awaken in us some of the reactions that turned some films into classics. This is the type of movie that has been adapted to contemporary times to make it fresh, and yet it retains enough of the classic ingredients to show us how some stars are born, and what real chemistry feels like.
This is a film that caters to an audience with intelligence, with the ability to decide and choose, who can truly appreciate interesting cinema. There have been some very good films before, and for some reason John Cusack keeps popping in my head. Gordon-Levitt gives us a little more vulnerability and there less cynicism in his approach, and there is his counterpart, the dazzling Zooey Deschanel, with those amazing eyes that can speak volumes in one look.
Enjoyable, touching, and quite an interesting film.