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"(500) DAYS OF SUMMER" (2009) (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Heavy None Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Minor Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Romantic Comedy: A young man hopes to change a young woman's mind about their status (despite her earlier proclamation that she's not looking for a serious relationship) after they start seeing each other and he falls for her. PLOT: Tom Hansen (JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT) is a young man living in Los Angeles who dreams of being an architect, but makes a living writing text for greeting cards. Things look up when he eyes Summer Finn (ZOOEY DESCHANEL), the new assistant to his boss, Mr. Vance (CLARK GREGG). The two get to know each other and start dating, but despite her proclamation that she doesn't believe in love and thus isn't interested in a serious relationship, he starts to fall for her. As the story jumps back and forth through the 500 days of their relationship, Tom repeatedly alternates between elation and despair depending on the temporal location, sharing his varied range of emotions not only with his friends, McKenzie (GEOFFREY AREND) and Paul (MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER), but also his younger sister, Rachel (CHLOE GRACE MORETZ), who seems wise beyond her years about matters of the heart. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into romantic comedies (especially unconventional ones) and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual material and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT plays a young man who dreams of being an architect but makes a living writing greeting cards. He thinks he's met the woman for him in Summer, and enjoys the early, carefree and fun days of their relationship. But things turn sour for him when he presses her on his feelings for her and her lack of the same for him, thus leading him into depression. He uses profanity, drinks in a few scenes, and has sex with her. ZOOEY DESCHANEL plays the young woman of his dreams who doesn't believe in love or deep relationships, and lets Tom know just that, although she confuses him by acting like his girlfriend, including having sex with him. She also drinks. GEOFFREY AREND plays Tom's friend and coworker who tries to be helpful and supportive of his romantic travails. He uses some profanity and sexually related dialogue, and is intoxicated in one scene. MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER plays Tom's other friend who's been in a long-standing relationship, tries to be supportive of Tom, and uses some sexually related dialogue. CHLOE GRACE MORETZ plays Tom's younger sister who's wise beyond her years regarding matters of the heart, and she gives him all sorts of related advice. She also uses some profanity, and hands him a glass of vodka to deal with his depression. CLARK GREGG plays Tom and Summer's greeting card business boss who worries about Tom's declining output and briefly uses strong profanity (in reading what someone else wrote for a greeting card). CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this romantic comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue and adult content are present, as is some making out, while sex is implied in several scenes and the bulge of a man's penis is seen under his pants (played for laughs). There's a brief fight, while characters drink in several scenes, some of which feature comedy-based intoxication. Some crude humor is present, as are bad attitudes, while some behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some shaky/bouncy camera footage from time to time in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Rachel (his underage sister) gives Tom a glass of vodka to settle him down. People appear to have champagne at an office party, but it's then pointed out that it's not that. We see people drinking in a karaoke bar, where Summer, Tom and McKenzie have shots and/or beer, and McKenzie appears fairly intoxicated. When Summer wants Tom to sing on stage, he says he isn't drunk enough, with Summer immediately calling for the bartender, and we next see Tom up on stage, singing. Tom and Summer have drinks in a bar where others drink, and a man (possibly affected by drinking) comes on to Summer despite Tom being there. Tom has a drink in front of him and his date a beer. We then see Tom doing some drunken karaoke singing, while she has a drink in front of her, but leaves (others in the bar also drink). People have champagne at a wedding reception where Tom and Summer do at least one round of shots. The narrator talks of Tom being intoxicated with expectations of seeing Summer again. People have wine and beer at a party, including Tom. While depressed, Tom buys a bottle of whiskey and other non-alcoholic stuff. BLOOD/GORE After commenting about his nickname, Summer tells Tom, "They use to call me anal girl," clarifying that as her being organized and such. Tom has a slightly bloody lip (with ice now on it) after being punched. An exhibit in an art gallery shows a pile of excrement (we don't know from what or whether it's real). Tom blabs on to his date about Summer, metaphorically saying, "She took a giant sh*t on my face," but then adds "literally." She asks, "Literally?" and he then says no. We see a sketch that Tom has done of Summer holding a knife with some drops of blood as well as a body in the background of the view (played for laughs). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE There's a humorous author's note (in text) at the beginning of the film that presumably refers to a past girlfriend as a "bitch." Not knowing her yet, McKenzie gossips about Summer, saying, "Dude, I hear she's a bitch" and we hear that she's an "Uppity, better than anyone, super skank." Tom then responds with a sexual use of the term "screw" in relation to her. McKenzie drunkenly asks Summer if she's a lesbian, and after she says she isn't interested in a relationship, he adds, "Holy sh*t, you're a dude." After Tom says something, McKenzie tells him, "You sound gay." A man repeatedly hits on Summer in a bar despite her obviously being with Tom (about whom he says things such as "I can't believe this is your boyfriend") and telling the man off. Tom finally has enough and punches that man in the face, with him then punching Tom back. We later see a flashback to that second punch. As a playful game in a public park (where even children are around), Summer and Tom take turns saying "penis" louder and louder each time. Mr. Vance reads a greeting card that Tom wrote and begins with the standard "Rose are red," but ends with "F*ck you, whore." While depressed about his relationship woes, Tom spots a couple walk by him on the sidewalk and yells out for them to get a room (although they aren't doing anything to warrant the comment -- played for laughs). FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS We see a sketch that Tom has done of Summer holding a knife with some drops of blood as well as a body in the background of the view (played for laughs). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Rose are red, violets are blue...f*ck you whore," "That is bullsh*t," "Holy sh*t (you're a dude)," "Can you believe that sh*t?" "Sh*t-load," "Sh*t, that's good," "She took a giant sh*t on my face," "This is total sh*t," "Enough bullsh*t in the world without my help," "Complete and utter bullsh*t," "They use to call me anal girl," "Don't be a p*ssy," "Really bodacious rack," "Bitch" (written), "Dude, I hear she's a bitch," "Uppity, better than anyone, super skank," "Sucks," "What the hell is wrong with you?" "Don't be stupid," "You son of a bitch," "Freak out," "You sound gay," "I just got my ass kicked for you," "Friends, my balls," "Better luck next time, bitch," "Hell no," "Damn right," "The hell with it" and "You know what sucks?" We see a flashback to younger Summer taking scissors to her long hair and cutting some of that. Tom does a spit take upon hearing Summer mention something surprising to him. Tom draws a cityscape on Summer's arm. As a playful game in a public park (where even children are around), Summer and Tom take turns saying "penis" louder and louder each time. Repeating a bit from above, Summer says "penis" at a wedding, but Tom stops the game right there. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 14 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("bang" and "screw"), 1 using female genitals ("p*ssy"), 1 for breasts ("rack"), 4 hells, 3 craps, 3 damns, 1 ass, 1 S.O.B., 2 uses of "Jesus" and 1 use of "G-damn." SEX/NUDITY In an old home movie, we briefly see the lower half of a woman in a one-piece bathing suit. Not knowing her yet, McKenzie gossips about Summer, saying, "Dude, I hear she's a bitch" and we hear that she's an "Uppity, better than anyone, super skank." Tom then responds with a sexual use of the term "screw" in relation to her. After commenting about his nickname, Summer tells Tom, "They use to call me anal girl," clarifying that as her being organized and such. Tom and Summer briefly kiss. After Summer tells Tom on the elevator that she had a really good weekend, he blows that out of proportion to his friend, stating she basically said she had sex with a guy she met at the gym. Paul then sarcastically states that her saying "hey" instead of "hi" also means she's a lesbian. On the way to the supply room, Summer asks Tom if he needs anything, and he suggestively replies, "I think you know what I need." McKenzie drunkenly asks Summer if she's a lesbian, and after she says she isn't interested in a relationship, he adds, "Holy sh*t, you're a dude." Summer passionately kisses Tom by the copy machines at work, and then walks off. About Summer, Paul asks Tom did he "bang her" (no) and whether there was a "blow" or "hand" job. Tom says there were no "jobs" as Summer then walks out into the room (apparently not having heard any of that) and Paul then tells Tom, upon exiting, to let him know if any "jobs" come up. Summer and Tom play house in IKEA, with her saying she'll race him to the bedroom. We then see him partially on top of her on a sample bed in the store (both clothed), with a family starring at them in disbelief before walking off (played for comedy rather than eroticism). We see Tom on top of Summer, making out clothed on a bed. He then goes into the bathroom to compose himself, and when he walks out, he sees some or all of her lying in bed nude waiting for him (we only see her bare back). Sex is implied, and the next morning we see him doing a "happy walk" as he leaves the house, and all sorts of people congratulate him (the latter all done for comedy in an exaggerated fashion). After someone tells Tom he should write a book to get over his relationship depression, he states that Henry Miller had a lot more sex than him. We see Tom and Summer go into the adult section of a video store, and then at home with a DVD titled "Sweet and Shower" (no cover art, just those words) that they watch (we don't see anything), with her stating, "That looks doable." We next see a view of the bathroom and movement and some bumbling and fumbling sounds behind the closed shower curtain before they end up pulling that down onto themselves (no nudity, and played for comedy rather than eroticism). About Tom wanting to know how Summer really feels about their dating status, Rachel tells Tom he should find out now before he finds Summer in bed with Lars from Norway with a Brad Pitt face and "Jesus abs." Tom isn't happy about Summer thinking of them as just friends, replying, "Friends my balls" and reminds her of their involvement with each other, including shower sex. We see Tom shirtless in bed while alone. We see Tom and Summer passionately kissing while clothed, and then later in bed in the spoons position, also clothed. After being asked, Summer tells Tom about some of her past lovers (and we see still photos of them), including a guy she states was "hot," another with a guy-sounding name who turned out to be a girl (meaning a lesbian fling) and another named "Puma." There's an obvious genital bulge down part of his pants leg and that part of the still photo is then seen in close-up. As a playful game in a public park (where even children are around), Summer and Tom take turns saying "penis" louder and louder each time. Tom then comments on that being something Summer did with Puma (the guy listed above) and she replies no, that they barely left the room. A photo in an art gallery shows two dogs mating. We see some drawings of nude cupids, but without any genitals. Mr. Vance reads a greeting card that Tom wrote and begins with the standard "Rose are red," but ends with "F*ck you, whore." We see Tom on a date with another woman whose dress shows cleavage and the shape of her nipples under the material. We see miscellaneous cleavage. Various characters talk to the camera about love, with McKenzie saying as long as she's cute and willing, adding that he's flexible on the cute part. Paul then states his dream girl would have a "really bodacious rack" (but then adds that he already has the girl of his dreams). We see an imagined view of Tom and Summer making out at a party. While depressed about his relationship woes, Tom spots a couple walk by him on the sidewalk and yells out for them to get a room (although they aren't doing anything to warrant the comment -- played for laughs). SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES The narrator briefly mentions the past disintegration of the marriage of Summer's parents. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Summer not believing in love or serious relationships. People being blinded (and blind-sided) by love. Tom states that greeting cards, movies and pop songs are responsible for all of the romantic heartache. The comment that what occurs in life is just coincidence, not fate or anything else predetermined. VIOLENCE We see Tom breaking food plates while upset about his relationship with Summer. A man repeatedly hits on Summer in a bar despite her obviously being with Tom and telling the man off. Tom finally has enough and punches that man in the face, with him then punching Tom back. We later see a flashback to that second punch. We see a sketch that Tom has done of Summer holding a knife with some drops of blood as well as a body in the background of the view (played for laughs). Reviewed June 29, 2009 / Posted July 17, 2009

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