Romantic Comedies go back to the 1920s when Girl Shy (1924) set the tone for what the genre should be going forward. Since then, so many rom-coms have tackled different views on love; whether it’s When Harry Met Sally, Crazy Rich Asians, or Her. However, the general ending for Romantic Comedies tends to be happy when the guy usually ends up getting the girl. That’s not the case for 500 Days of Summer.
The advertisement makes it clear that this isn’t a love story. But that’s what makes the rom-com brilliant in the first place. It honestly subverts classic tropes. It’s the classic story of boy meets girl, but the issue is that Tom is a hopeless romantic, whereas Summer doesn’t particularly believe in true love. At least not with Tom. The film generally sets you up with it’s an ending that feels brutally honest and sad. Since then, no other rom-com has managed to top the incredible ending to the clever Marc Webb film.
The Blatant Message Of 500 Days Of Summer
The issue with Summer throughout the film is that she was NEVER in love with Tom. On the other hand, Tom was quite smitten with his co-worker. Unfortunately, Tom ignored the major red flag that smacked him in the face early on. It’s a refreshing dating reality that isn’t talked about enough. Sometimes, people tend to infatuate their feelings for someone because there’s a bit of desperation. Tom is billed as a hopeless romantic; he feels that he can’t have true happiness without finding the love of his life.
Tom is only focused on his wants. Him and Summer share plenty of common interests, but in reality, the relationship was never a good pairing because Summer went into it not believing in true love. That notion didn’t change through their time spent together. Sure, the couple had some beautiful moments that made Tom fall head over heels for Summer, but those feelings were never reciprocated by the latter. The overall truth of 500 Days of Summer is to NEVER project your wants and desires onto someone who doesn’t share the same values as you.
The Ending Isn’t Really Sad
I stated in the introduction that the ending was brutally honest and sad. However, when you peel back the layers of the climax, it’s not particularly a depressing one. More often than not, Romantic Comedies tend to leave a smile on your face by the time the credits roll. The pair that we’ve been following for 80-plus minutes eventually ends up together after some trials and tribulations. For 500 Days of Summer, that isn’t the case. Tom has lost the feeling that true love does exist.
Surprisingly, Summer has gained that feeling. But with somebody else. The pair of ex-lovers meet at a park bench and have an awkward conversation. Summer knows that she’s hurt Tom, but tells him not to give up on his desire to find true love. She just wasn’t the ONE for him. That’s often the case for a good portion of our relationships. Some people get lucky and meet their soulmates very early in life.
For others, we go through several false relationships with the mentality that this person is the one. People grow apart. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. The ending is sad for a rom-com because the pair that we’ve been following doesn’t drive off into the sunset. However, Summer reaffirms that true love does exist and tries to keep the spirit of Tom alive despite their failed relationship.
500 Days Of Summer Doesn’t Sell You A Bubble Gum Fantastic
You watch 500 Days of Summer and you see the classic trope of rom-coms of the past. However, that’s from Tom’s perspective. Summer is a damaged woman. She’s been burned by the past and has lost all hope in truly finding the one. As previously mentioned, Tom ignored all of these signs for his selfish desires. He didn’t understand that Summer was never going to be his girl for the long haul.
Rom-coms tend to sell the idea that love heals all wounds. Sometimes the bad boy links up with a good wholesome girl and her love turns his life around. But that wasn’t the case here. Your partner isn’t your therapist, so their love is not a cure for the trauma you’ve dealt with in past relationships. 500 Days of Summer highlights that love has to be a mutual affair, not a one-sided interest that changes because someone makes you feel all fuzzy inside.
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