500 Days of Summer

Breaking the mold in romantic storytelling

Although it professes otherwise, 500 Days of Summer is a typical love story that is told in a not-so typical fashion. The ending may not be what we've come to expect, but the beats and choices that many of the characters make are familiar territory for fans of romantic fare. This becomes less of a problem and more of a strength when you consider the non-linear approach to weaving the individual throughlines. Predictability essentially fades to nothing, changing what could have been another forgettable waste to a wonderfully inventive and romantic film. That, coupled with a textbook exploration of a Steadfast Main Character who has his hopes and dreams broken down throughout the course of a story, makes this one to definitely watch.