This "anti-romantic" comedy inspired Sundance 09 audiences to standing ovations for its bubbly yet authentic, intelligently funny and delightfully visual approach to dating in the new millennium.

A modern, fresh spin on the tired romantic comedy formula, Marc Webb infuses his directorial debut with a light touch, enthusiastically exploring the hopes, fears and melancholic joys that love brings into our lives. Tom (Gordon-Levitt), a romantic at heart, breezes through his work days as a greeting card writer hoping to meet his soul-mate. He realizes it's a little naïve, but who can blame him when pop culture continues to present ideas of what love should look like? The new temp in his office, Summer (fresh-faced Deschanel), is the complete opposite -- she doesn't believe that true love exists since her parents are divorced. Their courtship takes off; over the course of 500 days, the couple will experience the ups and downs of love, while receiving advice from friends and family (Summer’s little sister is exceptionally wise for her age). As the film initially proclaims, this is not a love story. Steeped in vibrant colors, the film features an amazing soundtrack that includes The Smiths, Feist, Regina Spektor and showcases visually memorable moments such as a dance number with a song from Philadelphia’s own Hall & Oates. Add the natural, charmingly believable performances of both Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel, who present the real emotions that anyone who has ever dated will immediately understand, and you’ll realize why (500) Days of Summer is winning entertainment that is smart, instantaneously relatable and wonderfully fun. -- Lewis Tice