Here Comes Your Man...

Rating: 7/10 (9 September 2009)

Recently I commented on the woefully mediocre 'I Love You, Man' and argued its case as a romantic comedy for men. The infinitely superior (500) Days Of Summer could be pitched in a very similar way as it attempts to exchange typical gender character traits. The always excellent Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, a sensitive singleton drifting in dead end job (he writes hokey greeting cards!) waiting for something to happen, waiting to fall in love with 'the one'. Enter Zooey Deschanel as the beautiful yet distant Summer who firmly upholds the belief that love is a myth and is considerably better off without the emotional baggage a relationship brings. One is smitten, the other interested yet coolly detached.
Whilst Zooey's performance is inarguably great (good enough to forget about 'The Happening' thank god), the film is centred on Tom and Gordon-Levitt is instantly likable and effortlessly carries the picture; a good job as there is barely a scene with out him. Whilst he is 'the sensitive type', he's not effete or sappy but instead familiar and convincing - your firmly on his side.
What transpires is a unique, realistic and entertainingly insightful movie with a great (if a little over-used) soundtrack. You could argue that this is a great or a bloody awful date movie, its quality however isn't up for discussion - one of this years best. Great karaoke scenes too!