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Parents' Guide to

(500) Days of Summer

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Smart, fresh romcom is best for older teens.

Movie PG-13 2009 96 minutes
(500) Days of Summer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 22 parent reviews

Beckstar
Beckstar Adult
October 31, 2011
age 15+

not for kids

NOT FOR KIDS. Sexual themes are pretty strong (they watch a porn film and have sex in the shower though they don't show them doing it) Also, they yell out "PENIS!" or something like that very loudly in a park. Also some vulgar language. For over 15 year olds I think

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
rj2112
rj2112 Parent of 15-year-old
March 27, 2010
age 14+

17 and older movie

Did not feel comfortable watching this with my 15 year old. This is certainly not a movie that portrays how I would want her to act and the sex and talk is why too loose.

This title has:

Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, young architect Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) doesn't spend his days making buildings; instead, he's got a job designing pithy emotional appeals for a greeting card company. The arrival of new office assistant Summer (Zooey Deschanel) jolts him out of his routine, plunging him into the confusing, exciting morass known as "falling in love." Their relationship lasts for 500 up-and-down days that unfold in a dizzying array. Over its course, Tom and Summer discover that love is never enough but, at the same time, bewilderingly worth all the trouble.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (51 ):

For those who feel that the romantic comedy genre is irrevocably broken and that nothing original will ever surface: Dump the cynicism. (500) Days of Summer is the kind of movie that will make believers have faith again -- both in Hollywood and in love. Director Marc Webb's glee in making the film is apparent; he approaches storytelling loosely, letting the movie breathe. He plays with time and memories, much as the mind does when recalling the moments that make or break relationships. The stellar soundtrack only heightens the pleasure.

And the plot: It follows some typical conventions, but only just. Rather than simply recounting how boy meets girl and following along for the roller-coaster ride that follows (as does nearly every film in this genre), it attempts to answer a very complicated question that we've all asked at some juncture in our romantic histories: What's the point of falling deeply, madly in love with someone who may not be "the one"? The movie's stars are up to the challenge of tackling this heartfelt question (though the supporting cast could have used some shuffling): Deschanel is perfect as Summer -- elusive but earthy, substantive, vulnerable, compelling. In short, the kind of girl to confound. And Gordon-Levitt: All hail the generous-hearted, deep-thinking, cute guy. Finally, he's here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about relationships. What makes them work or fail? How does (500) Days of Summer handle this topic? What makes Tom and Summer's relationship more realistic than other movie pairings?

  • Do Tom's career issues also seem realistic? Is his struggle typical of college grads these days? Why does he continue to write greeting cards when that's not his calling?

  • How does the movie portray sex and drinking? What role do they play in the story and the characters' lives?

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