ongoing

The only thing we really didn't like about "(500) Days of Summer" was the too-cute title - Summer's the girl in question, 500 days is the length of the relationship - and a little twist at the end where the female seasonal name thing is played out a little much. Aside from those minor quibbles, "(500) Days of Summer," is a delight and refreshingly not a boy-gets-girl-despite-all-their troubles romcom. See, boy doesn't get girl - girl, in fact, has shifted her not wanting to be attached to becoming very attached, just not to him - and we're not giving away the plot here because as the movie starts, you learn this is a relationship of limited duration. Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) are the couple in question and the story is told from his point of view as a flashback. But the days jump around - when a scene starts, we are alerted as to what number day this is so we can arrange what we know and don't know accordingly - and hence there's a jumble of ups, downs and turnarounds that seem jarring but really do not feel like non-linear gimmickry or the director, Marc Webb, doing it just because he can. Tom, who has a crap job writing crap emotional ditties at a greeting card company in New York, falls for Summer at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked, she the new administrative assistant. Tom is smitten; she's the girl he wants. Summer eventually dates him but puts up the caveat about not wanting a boyfriend. Love always falls apart, she feels. Tom has a very funny buddy support group of not-exactly-winners in the relationship field. The soundtrack is excellent - the Smiths, Doves, Regina Spektor. Perhaps, what's so enticing about the film is that you know there's a breakup involved right away, but you're not quite sure how this is going to unfold. And there's some heartbreaking moments and guffaw-inducing shenanigans along the way. There's also a fantasy dance segment that you've just got to see. Sure, it "breaks" the movie's realistic tone, but you went into it knowing it was a movie didn't you, and it so well captures the joy of love - which the characters have at the time - that it's a big boost. The movie has already been declared the indy hit of the season - this year's "Juno" or something - so it's not exactly underground anymore. But it is the relationship movie to see if you've ever sung along to J. Geils Band's "Love Stinks" (and felt it), hummed the melody to Joy Divsion's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (and felt it) or, em, alternately sung at the top of your lungs to the song the Turtles made a hit, "Happy Together." Oh, one thing, I just saw this movie once so I can't swear to it, but my wife and I both thought we heard the same thing. Near the end, as Tom is calling out to Summer, I think Gordon-Levitt calls out "Zooey" (as in the actress' name) and not Summer. Check it yourself. Tell us.
It's playing in Arlington at the Capitol (2:30, 5:15, 7:45, 10:00), in Boston at AMC Loews Boston Common 19 ( 10:15am, 12:35, 2:55, 5:15, 7:30, 10:00, 12:15am) in Brookline at the Coolidge Corner Theatre
(2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30), in Cambridge at AMC Loews Harvard Square 5 (2:30, 5:00, 7:10, 9:45). It's also in the 'burbs. Tickets will run you $9.50 - $11, depending. check the website below to see if movie times or theaters have shifted.

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