What happened to happy endings?

Rating: 8/10 (29 January 2015)

No! No! No! No! No!
500 Days of Summer. The title screams 'happy ending'! That's what I wanted - a happy ending. I felt like a toddler who didn't get her way when things didn't end the way I wanted them to. Arg!
Okay, I love how the film begins with the whole voice-over about how this is not your typical love story. I sat under the covers of my bed and thought, "Pa-lease! This is just to make me think that it isn't a typical love story when it really is." Tom believed that he would never truly be happy until he found the love of his life (paraphrasing). The moment that information about him was revealed, I felt an immediate connection with this guy because we are alike in that sense. So I think that is why I especially felt the urgency for him and Summer to get back together.
I loved how the film didn't move in chronological order but rather jumping from 'then' and 'now'. It created parallels in a sense. For example, how we jump from the scene where they are playful in the furniture store to later in their relationship where Summer no longer finds it amusing.My absolute FAVOURITE scene has to be the 'expectation vs reality' scene. That for me was pure genius!
I could go on and on about all the things I liked and did not. I will say this though: the characters play some rather symbolic roles. Summer, as annoying as she is, had the biggest symbolic role. For me, she represents the very concept of summer. It's bright, warm, care-free and fun. It's the season you spend your entire year waiting for. Which leaves me with the impression that their relationship was sort of like a summer fling.
No, this movie didn't have the perfect ending every good love story has. But notice how Tom's new chapter only begun once he had gotten closure with Summer and wished her well with her husband. If Summer (the season) was a party, then Autumn would be reality that checks in the morning after. But Autumn has an understated beauty about it. A beauty we only appreciate once we let go of Summer. I don't know. I wish I could explain myself better but I loved this movie because it didn't end perfectly. It ended realistically and that it in itself had an understated beauty that I grew to appreciate once I let go of the perfect ending I wanted so badly.