I am going to take a break on my “Trust Issues” tri-fecta and write a little review on the movie 500 Days of Summer.

Generally I am months behind knowing what cool show or movie to watch.  Case in Point: Just started watching Friday Night Lights and I am hooked. Confession: Sunday I watched three episodes and I may or may not have cheered in my apartment…alone.

So 500 was a film that everyone said, “You need to see this, especially for your work. It’s different and has an ending you won’t expect, the sound track is great and the characters are totally opposite. She’s…like a dude.”

“She” being Zoey Deschanel. If I could look like, sing like, act like anyone…it would be her.

The film was entertaining and had the feel of a realistic look at love (minus the song and dance number) and the pain it brings. It didn’t end up with the typical proposal or them getting back together.  However, in my opinion, the story was what Hollywood has been telling us for years. Why? They know human nature…and want our $$$.

The “unique” storyline unfolds with quoting famous writers like Henry Miller, or casual references to her having dated girls. Message to audience: You are watching a film that is more intellectual and progressive than other romantic films.

Story:

Girl believes that there is no such thing as destiny or “the one.”

Boy believes that there is.

Girl is realistic, has walls up and doesn’t want labels.

Boy is idealistic and naive about the pains of heartache.

In the end, she leaves him. (gasp!) Her reasons?  Through a series of flashbacks and silence, the viewer sees the signs.  My opinion: He didn’t break down her walls…enough.  One day she was sad and when he asked what she wanted to do, her reply was that she was tired and wanted to go home.  He tried to find a solution, cheer her up and said, “You need pancakes!”

She went home.

She said she was tired and he believed her words. I believe she had deeper issues and wanted him to pull them out of her, but since he didn’t pick up on her non-verbal signs, she felt something was missing and chose another man.

Oh yeah, she chooses another man…a month later…and MARRIES HIM!

We interrupt this blog to bring you a message from our sponsors: If you have a good boyfriend or girlfriend, keep your walls up as tightly as possible. If they don’t read your mind and meet all of your needs, break up with them. You will find someone better…in a month…and they will marry you.

Girl feels something with new boy and now believes in destiny.

Old boy is now jaded.

Girl tells old boy (whose heart she has trampled) to “have hope.”

Old boy meets hottie named AUTUMN. Hope is restored.

AND THE GODS ARE ON OUR SIDE!!! OH AUTUMN, WHAT FATE!

Confession #2: “Autumn” in 500 is an actress who is also in Friday Night Lights. I am not a fan of her character in that show, hence the sarcasm. You would be upset too if you knew what she did in last night’s episode.

One reason why I get intense about Hollywood’s power and affect on us:

I have two friends who nonchalantly mentioned what this film did to them.  One friend was going to tell her boyfriend she loved him, saw this film, got scared and decided to hold off.  The other friend felt like he related to the “she” in this film and broke up with his girlfriend immediately after seeing it.

I realize these things could be inevitable, but both friends freely admitted that the movie was the trigger to their actions.

We need triggers in our life to help us make decisions. No questions asked. I also realize that art (films) could be one of those triggers. However, it seems like a sad day when something made on a Universal Studios lot is our most thought provoking counselor.

Siskel, Ebert & Eggerichs:

Entertainment value: 2 thumbs up.

Originality: 2 thumbs down.

Keeping us dissatisfied and always hoping for a better destiny: 4 Stars (yes, sometimes they choose to give star ratings).

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Questions

If you have seen the movie, why do you think the relationship ended?
Do we give up too easy and look for something new? Is Hollywood imitating life or is life imitating Hollywood?

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Just one of the reasons why I love Zoey: