(500) Days of Summer

There are two people in the world: people who believe in love and people who don't. Is love a force of life or whimsical fallacy? Love can compared to global warming. Some people, no matter the facts that deny its existence, believe in it. Others don't need facts to believe its real, they can feel it and see the effects on the world. Its a matter of faith.
(500) Days of Summer is a whimsical take on the force of love. Its a simple premise not unlike many romances before it of guy meets girl and they are destined to not end up together. The execution of this story is fantastical yet ingrained in a very real sense of how relationships exist. Its not a story that tries to hide behind its cute and colorful backdrop. Zoey Deschanel is pitch-perfect as Summer, the new-age offspring born to a divorced family. Thus she doesn't believe love exists. Deschanel has a charisma that we cannot deny. You know she will break our hearts as she breaks his, but we are too fond of her to accept it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Tom, he the new-age offspring born of pop music and movies. Thus he really believes in love. He plays the role like a character. This isn't to say he lacks unique characteristic but the role is ultimately one of acting to reflect the situation not dictate it. If the moment is one of depression, he plays depressed. This is not to criticize, it's how the role works and how the story works. Deschanel is more ingrained in the dictation of the story, more defining. Her actions dictate the feeling from scene-to-scene and Gordon-Levitt punctuates that feeling. It's a beautiful dynamic. (500) Days of Summer is wonderfully relevant. We know these characters. They are our friends, our family, or ourselves. We can relate to the offbeat, sweet girl who is bound to break his heart. We can relate to the lovestruck guy who believes too much in the concept to see whats really in front of him.
Love is a defining force of life. Love is not fake. Its not a holiday created by greeting card companies. Some find it easy to deny that it exists. True, it is easier to assume that there is no unifying force between two people. Its easier to step away from someone by not believing in love. Love can be described as a matter of faith. Some just have more faith than others.