Excellent romcom which isn't always rom or com

Rating: 9/10 (9 September 2009)

Lapsed architect Tom writes slogans for greetings cards. He finds himself unexpectedly smitten by new clerical assistant Summer, and it seems she likes him too, although she does deliver a warning to him that she's not looking for anything permanent.
And therein lies a factor which is instrumental in raising this romcom a cut above the norm. Yes, it's romantic and yes, it is often funny, but underlying this is the knowledge, right from the start, that Summer is The One as far as Tom is concerned, yet not only is this not reciprocated, but the relationship is doomed to failure.
The script is not especially laugh-out-loud funny, but it is constantly amusing. More importantly, it is sharp, the characters are well rounded and believable, and the thorny issues raised by a relationship breaking down (and worse) are addressed and not avoided.
Joseph Gordon Levitt is a likable and vulnerable Tom, and Zooey Deschanel makes amends for her appalling performance in The Happening by giving us an attractive and free-thinking Summer.
For one appalling minute I thought the movie was going to give us the conventional Hollywood happy ending, which would have betrayed the integrity of the characters and the movie. Happily, that didn't happen. Then I thought we were going to get the "second best" substitute happy ending. And I suppose we did, but with such a satisfactory payoff that I didn't care.
There is a fabulous song and dance sequence about half way through which deserves mention - broad smile time! And, most of all, this film is beautifully and carefully constructed - it has been assembled with real care.
Highly recommended,