Adam Soisson

If you ever want to anger a group of teenage girls, simply mention the name Summer Finn. Chances are what will follow is a rant about the title character from (500) Days of Summer, centering on how evil she is to the main character Tom. The film is a story about boy-meets-girl, but I should tell you upfront, it is not a love story, as the narrator states in the beginning scene. Tom from (500) Days of Summer expresses emotions to extreme degrees, to the point where it is impossible for the audience to disconnect from his emotions. Just as Tom is unable to see logic clearly, his vast embrace of emotion makes the audience unable to do so as well. I will argue that Tom in (500) Days of Summer is so wrapped up in extreme emotions that he fails to think or act logically until the last scene of the movie when he finally severs ties with Summer and moves on to Autumn. You could take any number of scenes to show how over-the-top Tom is with his emotions but I will highlight just a few. When Tom is high, he is very high. The best example of this the musical piece set to Hall and Oates You Make My Dreams Come True. Tom is so happy that his emotions are infectious- as he walks through the park a group of strangers join him in a spontaneous dance routine. He is a hero to everyone he passes; the people on the street smile at him and shake his hand. A marching band even comes to cheer him on. Everything is going right for the smitten man. Tom has the same mood on day 154 when he narrates all the things he loves about Summer as images of her flash across the screen- her hair, her legs, and her heart-shaped birthmark included. I love how she makes me feel, like anythings possible, like life is worth it, he says to his friend Paul standing next to him. On the other hand, when he is low, he is very low. Day 314 shows Tom sleeping in a movie theater, dreaming that the movie onscreen stars himself in agony. As a clown walks by and asks him for his balloon, he consents, but the clown simply lets the balloon slip out of his
Comment [A2]: Make an argumentable topic sentance Comment [A3]: What does this mean Comment [A1]: Give specific emotions

hand then proceeds to slap him. The metaphor that the clown is Summer and the balloon is his heart is clear. On Day 290 the film shows the same shots of Summer as on Day 154, but Toms view of her characteristics has completely changed. Now, he hates her 1960s haircut, her knobby knees, her cockroach-shaped splotch. Tom now views all of her positives as negatives, which could actually help him get over her if he truly believed what he was saying. He does not, though, because when he goes on a date with a very attractive and sophisticated woman on day 345, he immediately rejects her and is fine with that because she doesnt look anything like Summer. It is interesting that the viewer aligns with Tom so much, especially because there are many people reasoning against his extreme emotions. Tom also develops a pattern of grief through ignorance- any time that someone makes a point that would help him, he simply chooses to ignore them. The strongest voice of reason is, ironically, his 12-year-old sister Rachel. Even though she is young, she is exceptionally mature. She sees what Tom fails to realize, and is not shy about pointing it out. Eleven days after Tom meets Summer, he visits Rachel at her house to tell her all about his compatibility with Summer. She is not impressed, though; Just because some cute girl likes the same bizarro crap you do, that does not make her your soul mate, she points out. Tom is unwilling to accept this, and he refuses to even acknowledge her response. Earlier in the film but later in the narrative, on day 290, his friends McKenzie and Paul are comforting him in his apartment. At this point, Tom is so inconsolable that he is smashing dishes on the counter. Youll meet somebody new. Youre the best guy I know, youll get over her, says McKenzie as Tom shakes his head disagreeably. Its like they say, there are plenty of other fish in the sea, adds Paul. No, theyre liars. I dont wanna get over her. I wanna get her back, Tom retorts. It is clear at this point that he is irrational, although the viewer is blind to this because all they can see is that hes fighting for what he wants. Summer never said that she wants a relationship; in fact, she

Comment [A4]: How do his extreme emotions depict that he is acting illogically?

Comment [A5]: Describe who rachel is to give context to people who havent seen the movie

says just the opposite- I dont feel comfortable being anyones girlfriend. I dont really feel comfortable being anyones anything. Tom once again refuses to acknowledge the truth, and his ignorance will only cause him more pain. There is hope, though, after Tom quits his job Tom and Summers relationship has burned out, Rachel again has some sage advice on Day 450. I know you think that she was the one, but I dont, she says. I think youre just remembering the good stuff. Next time you look back I really think you should look again, she says. Tom does not accept his friends authority until the very end of the film. The viewer can discount Rachels opinion because she is so young, but it is harder to argue against his same-age friends Paul and McKenzie- that is, until Tom points out their poor credibility. First of all, your last girlfriend was Amy Sussman in the 7th grade and you dated for like 3 hours, he says to McKenzie. And youve been with Robin since 1997. I dont think the two of you are really authorities on modern relationships. Tom has a point, but he fails to see the truth in their statements. Yes, they may not be authorities, but even without experience in a modern relationship, they still have a more clear view on reality than he does. They are not weighed down by the burden of emotion.