If I'd seen this film in college, I'm sure how I would've reacted. I would have filtered a great deal of jilted lover angst through this film, and I would've seen Zooey Deschanel's character as one or all of the three women she reminds me of (and not in a good way). They were all smart, funny, and uniquely sexy, and in the end, they all dropped me like a hot brick.
Deschanel's character embodies all that I struggled to understand about women when I was in college. She even embodies the justification I used to have for the way I treated a few of them.
I would've pointed to Tom as some sort of modern day Lloyd Dobler with a jagged edge -- one that I, too, could use as a defense. I could stand outside a dorm window with a boombox, but I'd rather throw a fit and demonstratively walk out. I would've sat with my friends and chosen my words carefully, pensively, and had those deep, intense conversations that I just don't have the time or inclination or the fucking energy to mess with anymore. You're in the boat or you are not. Drive on.
I probably would've felt Tom's elation and laughed at the Hall & Oates dance number a little. In short, I totally would've sided with Tom. Bitches, man.
In my thirties, though, I have a hard time feeling sorry for Tom. She told him everything up front, but he kept pushing, and you can't treat people like that. He also put aside his dreams and made himself miserable doing a job that, deep down, he hated. No woman will stay with you if you shelve your dreams and make yourself miserable. You have to be happy. Failing that, you'd better be a good actor and smile a whole lot. Depending on the day, I'm somewhere between happy and acting.
But I think most people are the same way.
Eventually, Tom cuts his losses at work and pursues his dreams. If I were doing a job that made me miserable, I might consider doing the same thing. Luckily, I enjoy my job, and while I wish I had more time to be a screenwriter, I try to be pragmatic. I miss writing, but I'm pretty happy with the way life and love have turned out for me so far.
I still need to see this movie, but I've a feeling my feelings and thoughts will be much the same.
ReplyDelete(Also, this project is awesome. Looking forward to following it.)
Agree: this is a very cool blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like your take on this film. My much less articulate thoughts: http://www.sarahlayden.com/2009/09/500-days-of-summer-pastpresent.html
I too saw this movie and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYou can imagine my surprise when a friend of mine saw this movie a week after I did and posted a vitriolic rant on Facebook as to why exactly the female character didn't deserve to breathe the same air we good humans do.
My take on the flick was as yours: She told him up front what she was about, what she was looking for, and he just kept trying to press press press her into his life-mold, and his needs and wants, never considering that she might be not-as-happy or even downright-unhappy in the relationship.
I also enjoyed the ending of this movie. I would call it 'cute' but that word is acutely overused!