Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seen (500) Days of Summer and you don’t want to be spoiled, then don’t read this post.
Hubby and I rented a movie a couple Fridays ago. (500) Days of Summer. I read the back. It looked really cute and quirky. It’s an indie film and we tend to like those. Plus, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a great actor. In case you don’t know who he is, he’s the boy from Angels in the Outfield, only all grown up.
So, fast forward a bit. We’re settling into the couch downstairs with a Papa John’s pizza and we start watching the movie. Right away, the narrator warns, “This is not a love story.” I should have listened. But I didn’t. How could I take him seriously when right after his warning, the movie shows a close up of Summer and Tom holding hands and she’s wearing a ring? I decided the narrator wasn’t to be trusted. Of course this was going to be a love story. The genre’s a romantic comedy.
Um….no.
More like romantic tragedy.
This nonchronological movie is about Tom and Summer. Tom writes greeting cards for a living (although he wants to be an architect) and Summer is the new receptionist. The movie skips around within the 500 days Summer consumes Tom’s life, showing the breakup very early on. I assumed they’d eventually get back together. I awaited the moment with great anticipation.
You see, their relationship unfolds in a completely adorable way. They charmed the pants off me. I loved them. They were so silly and cute together. Tom is a classic romantic who believes in soul mates. Summer, however, came from a divorced family and openly admits she doesn’t believe in love. Yet, all of her actions contradict what she says when she kisses Tom first and reveals things to him she’s never told anybody else in her life. She basically strings him right along….and me as well, because I’m thinking, “I can’t wait to see how they finally get back together.”
Later in the movie, after their breakup, they run in to each other at a wedding. Everything is wonderful again. They dance. She invites him to her house later in the week for a party. Tom goes to the party, his hopes completely high, only to find out she has a RING on her finger. Yes, a ring. We never meet the guy. Summer goes from this girl who refuses to be anybody’s girlfriend, who supposedly doesn’t believe in love, to a girl who is now somebody’s fiance. Only it’s not with Tom, who I’m totally rooting for. She’s apparently over her love-phobia and in love with some dude whose only screen time is a quick shot of the back of his head. Tom is left broken-hearted.
So he does some soul-searching, or whatever, and I am so disillusioned at this point that even when the movie shows Summer’s veil being lifted to kiss her groom, I’m convinced there’s going to be some sort of weird twist at the end. Somehow, this is all a mistake and Summer will realize she loves Tom. Because, seriously, how could you NOT love Tom? He’s one of the most lovable characters I’ve yet to see on the screen.
Wanna know how the movie ends?
Tom decides he’s completely wrong about love. He’s now adopted Summer’s attitude. Love doesn’t exist. It’s just made up hype perpetuated by greeting cards (which he helped write) and pop songs and Hollywood. He’s sitting on this bench, his favorite spot in the city, and Summer is there. With her stupid ring. Tom admits to her that he was wrong about love and she was right. What does Summer say? She tells him he wasn’t wrong. She tells him she finally felt “it”. The “it” being love. And she says, “I just didn’t feel it with you, Tom.” Umm…okay…let’s drive the stake further into his heart, shall we?
I was beyond frustrated.
Then, it shows Tom about to interview for a job with an architecture firm and he meets this girl who is his competition. After some cute back-and-forth banter, he asks her out. She says yes. Her name’s Autumn. Gag me.
Tom’s little sister has a great line in the movie. She says, “Just because you meet some cute girl who likes the same music as you doesn’t make her your soul mate, Tom.” Very poignant. But all poignancy is lost at the end when Tom asks this new cute girl out just because they like the same bench in the city. I’m led to believe it’s going to happen all over again. Tom will fall in love with Autumn and she’ll crush his heart too.
He doesn’t seem to have learned anything and Summer ends up coming across as this selfish woman who has no qualms about leading Tom on for 500 days. It’s all good for her because she had fun with Tom, but hey, she ended up meeting her soul mate. Who cares if she crushed Tom’s heart in the process? She obviously doesn’t.
This movie had SO many amazing parts. Like this split screen thing where we see Tom’s reality versus his expectation when going to Summer’s party. It was brilliant. Or when Joseph Gordon-Levitt breaks out in a hilarious (and very cute) song and dance because he’s completely in love with Summer. Even some of the lessons were great. I smiled and laughed my way through 3/4 of the show. But sadly, the final fourth just ruined all the good parts.
So what did I learn? What can I take away from this experience?
Endings are important. Very, very important. It can be the most delicious dinner you’ve eaten in your life, but if you chomp into a raw onion at the end…I don’t care how tasty the meal was, you’re going to be burping onion for the rest of the night.
I also learned that I like Happily Ever After’s (otherwise known as HEA’s) a lot more than I realized. At least when I’m watching what I believe is going to be a romance. And so does my hubby. He said the movie put him in a bad mood.
Questions to Ponder: Has an ending (to a movie or a book) ever ruined the story for you? Have you seen this movie? Do you completely disagree with me? Because the movie’s getting awesome reviews, so obviously a lot of people don’t feel the same way as I do.
I think I'm of two minds here. Yes, I love a happy ending, and in my opinion, if something is touted as romance or romantic comedy, it should give me one. Movies with great endings – The Proposal, New in Town, An Officer and A Gentleman, Something to Talk About, Leap Year(even though it was a pretty stupid movie), etc… I love that final moment when she thinks all is lost, then turns around and there he is…and off they ride into the sunset. However, I've recently been challenged to step out of the happily ever after mindset with my writing. It's tough for me, because I'm addicted to happily ever after, yet life isn't always like that. Sometimes we just don't know how things will work out. I hated the book Dear John because of the ending, but then I was really surprised when the movie was completely different. It kind of made me mad because I felt they were bowing to consumerism when the author hadn't ended it that way at all in the book. ANYWAY, I think it's a personal decision of how to end a story, and sometimes depends on what you're writing and who you're writing it for.
Yes! The movie COLD MOUNTAIN left a bitter taste in my mouth. I still hate it! I was so angry to have sat through the entire movie, waiting and waiting and waiting for them to find each other, and then they had less than 24 hours together! Awful!
Great post! 🙂
This isn't a movie I'd watch to begin with, since I'm more of an action/sci-fi gal. But yes, endings are important, in movies and in fiction. I hate it when I read a novel, turn the page, and that's it! Huh?
Well, I would have stayed away from this movie in the first place. Weren't they watching porn together and imitating a porn in the shower? That's what Pluggedinonline.com said anyway…
Sounds like this movie was bashing true love in so many ways, especially based off your explanation of the ending. Yucky. 🙁 And sad….
Oh I hear you! I need a good HEA. I CRAVE a good HEA. And yeah, I'm cranky if I don't get one. 500 days of summer? I wish.
I was reading James Patterson's Lidsey Boxer series, and I almost…okay, ALMOST didn't pick up the next one because Chris died…ohhhhhh man I was SO mad at him!
lol
But I still had to know what's next.
I can't stand sad endings.
I just read Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes….sigh *wipes away tears*…"DANG IT!"
lol
Laura – funny you say that about 10 Things I Hate About You, because I was totally a Heath Ledger fan in that movie and didn't pay much attention to Levitt at all. The weird thing is, hubby and I both thought Levitt looked like Ledger in 500 Days of Summer! Did you ever think that? From certain angles, they really look alike.
You make a great point in this post (and satisfied my curiosity about this movie). I LOVE HEA's! When I read a romance, a really good romance, I am committed to the characters by the end. I have to see them have their HEA because I feel betrayed if they don't.
Katie, I see where you're coming from now! I'm one of those weirdos who likes romance movies with endings that would probably really happen. I don't know why since I'm a total romantic! Heck, my own real-life love story is out of the fairy tales. But I liked the endings to The Breakup and My Best Friend's Wedding, too. I know, I'm weird! Stop throwing tomatoes at me, lol!
I totally agree about Joseph Gordon-Levitt! I only remembered him from Angels in the Outfield (love that movie!) and 10 Things I Hate about You, where he was cute, but I was more into Heath Ledger then. 🙂 So I was pleasantly surprised to see an all grown up super handsome Joseph in this movie!
Yes, endings matter!
I'm a total happily ever after girl. I watched 500 Days of Summer, hoping for a HEA. The movie dragged in places and I felt the character shift for Summer was too abrupt. What made her suddenly realize love is possible? Maybe I missed that part. I was very disappointed in the ending.
I watched Message in a Bottle with Kevin Costner, Paul Newman, and Robin Wright. Loved the movie until the ending. I was so mad!! I will never ever watch or read another Nicholas Sparks story because I don't want to feel let down at the end.
Great post, Katie!
Well, now I want to watch the movie. 🙂 See what life lessons I can glean. Interesting that girl #2's name was Autumn. No Spring or Winter?
The seasons of love and life.
I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt! If you can find a clip of his opening monologue from SNL this past season, you'd love it. I was amazed, and decided I liked him that much more. He's incredible!
I was disappointed with the movie's ending. 🙁
I hear you, Laura. I actually agree with everything you wrote. But here's my beef with the movie. When I pick out a romance movie to watch, I expect to have a happy ending where the hero and heroine end up together. I didn't realize I even felt this way until I finished 500 Days of Summer and was left so disappointed. Like Wendy, I considered myself on the "tough" side. I used to claim, "I don't need a happy ending, just a satisfying one." HA! Now I eat my words. At least when it comes to this genre.
Now, let's say this movie wasn't labeled with a "romance", then I wouldn't have been so disapointed. There are lots of stories where the guy doesn't end up with the girl, yet I'm perfectly happy because I didn't go into it expecting a romance.
Anyway – just my two cents. That split screen scene was pretty awesome. I'm officially a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt now!
To me, the ending WAS happy. Tom would've been unhappy with Summer if they married; he was too disillusioned with his job to realize he felt the same way in the relationship.
This is how I viewed the ending: Because of Summer, Tom had the courage to finally quit his job at the greeting card company. Because of Summer, Tom pursued his dream to be an architect. Because of Summer, Tom met Autumn, who I believe becomes the love of his life. I loved this movie because it's a reminder that every setback, every disappointment, is really part of something larger, the place you're supposed to be.
I agree that the split party scene with Tom's expectations and what really happened was brilliant!
One of the reasons I write romance is I CRAVE happy endings! That movie would've bit bigtime for me. Yuck!
One movie I detest the ending to is Sommersby. I've never even watched it, but my husband did, and from his description (many, many times descibed description) the movie ends so badly you want to wail to the heavens for those lost two hours.
Oh my, Katie! I had the same exact thoughts/feelings as you did when I finished watching this movie! I had to warn people about it. It's not what you'd expect I would tell them.
I am currently having trouble with my ending…I'm in the middle of doing major rewrite and an not rethinking the ending. Do I let them be together or not? Does she end up with the other guy? Ahhh…decisions!
I guess the movie taught me that I really like it when the hero and heroine end up together.
Annonymous – point well taken. Since having some time away from the movie, I've come to appreciate it more. I wrote this post a week or so ago. I also like how it shows that just because a relationship doesn't work out, it doesn't mean it can't still be remembered as fun and romantic. I'm conflicted about the movie, because there were some really great parts. But I just can't get away from wishing Summer and Tom would somehow end up together. That is the hopeless romantic in me though. 🙂
Hi Katie–You have a great blog. I just wanted to add an anonymous two cents to your thoughts on the ending of 500 Days of Summer. I didn't think it was a negative ending at all. As a viewer, I assumed Tom was going to now have his HEA with Autumn. The problem with his relationship with Summer was that the only good parts of his life came from his being with her. He hated his job. He was sort of a slacker. He wasn't using his passions or his gifts. While Summer enjoyed several of Tom's interests, I think she ultimately couldn't find herself attracted to someone who was sort of a loser (albeit a very nice and cute loser). After the breakup, through all of his heartbreak, he pulled himself out of his funk and became the architect he always should have been. Summer did come across as callous, but she ultimately pushed Tom towards the life he deserved and needed.
Overall, I think the movie is more about the bad relationships that move people towards who they ultimately become. Was it initially disappointing and unexpected that Tom didn't end up with Summer? Of course. As readers/viewers/listeners to stories, we are conditioned to think the good guy will get the girl. However, I like to think Tom's 500 Days of Autumn ended up with rings on their fingers…since Tom was overall more satisfied in his life and hopefully not as aggressive at trying to keep his relationship in the flirty, lovey-dovey stage.
I haven't seen it (hadn't planned to), but I can think of a bunch of books and movies with endings that made me angry like that.
There's a podcast called WRITING EXCUSES that often talks about "fulfilling your promises to the reader." They suggest that this is one of the most important reasons to get beta readers: so that someone can say, you promised me a romantic comedy, but you didn't give it to me. Often writers don't realize that they're making these promises to the reader, so then of course they fail to fulfill them at the end! (How a movie or book like that gets through production, I don't know, but it happens. Maybe the authors convince everyone it's a "twist" ending when in fact it's more like a cheat.)
I hated pretty much all of Jodi Picoult's HANDLE WITH CARE but I especially hated the ending. Fake drama and the meaningless killing-off of a character, all totally implausible. I was disgusted, and will never read another book of hers again.
Oh, Katie. I totally agree with you. At the awful risk of using another adverb, TOTALLY agree.
My hus once put a movie in for us in which the hero rides off into the distance, leaving a broken-hearted heroine behind because he had to fulfill some stupid princely obligation. When The End flashed on the screen, I stood up, clenched my fists and whirled on my naiive DH, screaming, "NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! She loved him; she should have ended up with him. This is all wrong!!!!!" Kevin said, "But he did the right thing; the noble thing." I raged on for five or ten minutes, my blood pressure on the moon.
That was seven or eight years ago. I don't even need to ask him if the movies he chooses now have HEA endings. He's a quick learner.
Thanks for warning me. I won't waste my money. In fact, I'd be tempted to ask for a refund on this one. Seriously.
Thank you for the spoiler on this movie! I've come close to renting it several times since it was categorized as a romance, but now I'm SO glad I didn't. Just rented Leap Year this weekend and loved it! Now that's an HEA ending worth watching. 🙂
My sis hated the end of Dear John. Now I'm afraid to watch it. lol
That movie sounds amazing! Except the end. You know, it sounds like the writers were trying to teach us a lesson, maybe something that writer believes, which is that love is amazingly wonderful but also fickle and not REAL. That it can happen with anyone and that when it dies, life still goes on.
I really HATE a lesson in my entertainment. Grrrr.
Sorry about that movie. Stinks.
I think I like HEA endings more than I care to admit too. I try to be so tough…but I'm just a softie. 😉
If endings didn't matter all that much I don't think God would have had John finish off the Bible with such a creative bang.
~ Wendy
Terri – I agree about Dear John! We just watched it the other night too and hubby and I were both left wishing for more happiness!
We watch movies and read for entertainment and to take us on a journey. I would have been SOOOO disappointed in this one. I am glad you told me about it cause I won't rent it. Maybe the author was trying for a twist of reality but instead missed the mark of entertaining us. I love HEA.
We rented Dear John last night and still though it ended happy–it could have been happier.
So, I won't rent this movie!! I thrive on happily ever afters. In fact, just watched the movie Hachi with my family while on vacation. My daughters and I sobbed through the last part of the book because it was so sad. But I clung to the hope that somehow something good would happen. And when it didn't, I was even more depressed. I know it's based on a true story, but I really love HEA's and needed it there too!
For me, it boils down to the fact that in real life, there are so few HEA's. I don't want that disappointment in my entertainment. Instead, I want to feel hope, fulfillment, and happy by the end of the book or movie. That's part of the fun and escape of entertainment for me! 🙂
Oh my goodness! I started this movie with my husband and hated it! I fell asleep through the last portion of it and did not care one bit! Glad to see I didn't miss anything!
Oh! That is just not right! Poor Tom!!!!
Endings, yes, I agree. They are very important. I have thrown books across the room before because the ends SUCKES! So I do try to remember the angst when I write. The reader has journeyed with the writer for 200 odd pages, they deserve a good ending. I aim to please 🙂
Thanks for answering my question about pitching. That is a great idea and I wish you the very best. I pray for you and your book. I am behind you all the way and hope I get to hold that book in my hand soon 🙂