(500) Days of Summer - A Story About Love
Review: (500) Days of Summer - A Story About Love, But Not a Love Story
The most recent film I've seen is 500 Days of Summer (directed by Marc Webb) after coming across a mention of it in a YouTube video. I took it as a universal signal that I should watch this film since I've been focusing more on love and relationships lately.
More than that, I had an idea for my blog --- to write a review of this well-known romance film. I'm also excited to see how other reviewers interpret the film, whether their perspectives align with mine or not. I believe this movie offers valuable insights into the journey of love, and rather than simply listing advice, I can illustrate these points through its story and characters, making them more engaging and relatable.
1. Characters
I wasn't particularly impressed by the male lead, Tom Hansen, except for his dream of becoming an architect. As you know, I love drawing, which makes me naturally drawn to people with creative, artistic careers.
Summer is beautiful --- her eyes are lovely, and her voice is interesting. However, she comes across as having a somewhat carefree energy toward many things in life.
Surprisingly, I found myself liking the side characters more. Tom's younger sister is smart and confident, often acting as his voice of reason. His friends are funny and supportive, and I also appreciated Rachel, the new girl he dated, whose patience helped him see his problems from a different perspective. Even his boss at the greeting card company was an interesting addition to the story, bringing humor to his scenes.
2. Story
The film explores familiar stages of love --- attraction, falling in love, conflicts, and ultimately, the end. However, it doesn't explore each phase in depth, which left me feeling like it lacked emotional weight.
This is further confirmed by his behavior throughout the film:
- He expects Summer to act in a certain way even though nothing was clearly established.
- He overanalyzes details, relies heavily on others (his sister and friends) for advice and validation, and struggles to answer things for himself.
- He hesitates to communicate openly and clarify things, perhaps out of fear of pushing her away
- He cannot work through conflicts and reach the root cause of issues.
- He loses control of his emotions during the breakup.
All of this suggests that Tom's love for Summer was more about idealization than a deep, mutual connection.
3. Why is this not a love story?
First, Summer made it clear from the beginning that she wasn't looking for a serious relationship. Tom knew this, so he shouldn't have expected too much.
In the final scene, Summer gives Tom a painful but honest reason: "I just woke up one day and I knew. What I was never sure of with you." This is understandable. A genuine connection must be built over time, and that foundation was missing in their relationship. Tom didn't provide her with an emotional security or a sense of stability --- partly due to his communication in their conversations, partly due to the way he handled challenges, partly because he lacked passion for his own career.
Perhaps his feelings for Summer were genuine, but they were mostly one-sided and built on an illusion. He idealized her rather than seeing her for who she truly was. Love alone is not enough. He should understand love can't fix everything. A lasting relationship requires more than just emotions. It demands mutual understanding, effort, and true compatibility.
After the breakup, Tom analyzed , "She’s an evil, emotionless, miserable human being… or she’s a robot." But maybe he didn't take enough time to reflect on his own flaws in the relationship.
Interestingly, while Summer claimed she wasn't serious about relationships, she was still emotionally available --- as shown by her decision to marry another man. If Tom had been what she truly needed, perhaps this could have been a love story.
4. The transformation after a breakup
It's common for personal growth to happen after a breakup, and Tom is no exception. He finally lets go and focuses on his dream career. He gains more experience and confidence in love. However, when he meets Autumn, his gaze looks the same as it did with Summer, making me question if he has truly changed.
Final Thoughts
First love often comes with inexperience, but that's part of life. Let's follow our hearts, make mistakes, and learn from them. Looking back, we might think, How foolish was I? --- but those moments shape us and help us grow. Without them, how would we ever know the purest kind of love --- the kind that comes from the heart?
If two people are truly meant to be together, they will find a way to work things out and grow together. Love is a series of mutual choices. Sometimes, they might need a break to reflect on their feelings and figure out how to build a stronger relationship.
In this case, Summer moved on and married someone else. Tom had to accept it, take the lessons, and move forward. Next time, he can love with more confidence and less heartbreak.
I rate this movie 6/10.
Hanoi, March 11, 2025
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