I. Movie Identity

Director: Marc Webb

Producer: Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Mason Novick, Steven J. Wolfe

Screenwriter: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Distributor: Fox

Production Co: Watermark

Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Material | Language)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

II. Synopsis (a long one)

 This is not a love story, this is a story about love. That pretty much sums up what the movie is about. Staring by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom and Zooey Deschane as Summer, they give us an epic story that makes us argue about which one is wrong between them two.

 Starting with Tom who was currently working in a greeting-card company, a hopeless romantic guy, who will never be truly happy until he’s with the right person. After that, there is Summer, a transfer employee who settled at Tom’s workplace. She’s not believed in love, not since the divorce of her parents. She’s a good looking, charming girl, whose Tom believes that she’s the love of his life. Yes, Tom is interested in Summer, but is she?

 Tom and Summer are getting closer. They are “pretty much” flirting with each other, or did she? (again). For instance, there is an iconic scene that makes everyone in the world talks about it, which is the ‘elevator’ scene, when Summer interrupting Tom — who was listening to music, and told him that she also loves The Smiths. Of course, as a hopeless romantic guy, he thought that moment is an awakening call from God that Summer is the one for him. Yes, he thinks that the same taste in music is a big sign, or whatever it’s called.

 And there is the scene in a bar, when Tom, his friend, and Summer hangout together. They do a little talk until Summer tells them that she’s not comfortable being ‘anything’ to anybody. She doesn’t believe in love, because she’s never felt it. She’s not into a relationship.

 A few days later, they went on several dates, just like a couple. They’re getting closer and closer. Tom felt like what happened between them was never casual. He really wanted to ask her a question “what are we?” so badly. On the other hand, Summer felt the opposite. When she told him that they’re no more than friends, Tom didn’t accept it, he feels like that is not fair for him.

 He tried so hard to forget Summer, but no matter what he did, he just can’t. That’s because no matter what, Summer was always the only person who can truly make him the happiest.

 Time flies. After not seeing each other, they met again on the train. She then invited Tom to her party. He was so happy to be close again with Summer. But then, Tom discovered that it’s nothing like his expectations. It wasn’t a party where Tom and Summer could become more than friends, but it was an engagement party for Summer and a man who wasn’t Tom, it was another man. Tom was so disappointed, it made him leave the party as soon as he could.

 Many times later, Summer meets Tom again in the place where they used to date. Tom expresses his disappointment with a little sarcasm, he said “You once told me that you don’t want to be anybody’s partner, but you’re married now, it shocks me.” Summer then gives a life-changing quote for us, “I just woke up one day and I knew what I was never sure of with you.”

III. Approved Movie Elements

 I must admit that I’m on Summer’s side. Because I think all the Tom’s disappointment towards Summer isn’t valid. Summer was already told Tom that she doesn’t ready for a relationship in the first place.

IV. Disapproved Elements of the Movie

a. Tom was being delusional

 When summer already told him that she wanted to keep things casual, on the other hand, Tom was always being delusional about how he can change her principal. Tom doesn’t have a right to be mad at her.

b. Summer gave mixed feelings to Tom.

 Summer said that she just wants to be friends with Tom, but she didn’t act like one. She treats Tom like she was his girlfriend. These mixed feelings make Tom confused so that he thought that she already changes her mind. But that’s not true.

V. The Moral Lessons from the Movie

a. You can’t change someone.

b. Don’t force anyone into loving you.

c. Just like what Summer said,

 “I was sitting in a deli and reading Dorian Gray, and a guy came up to me and asked me about it, and now he is my husband. So, what if I’d gone to the movies? What if I had gone somewhere else for lunch? What if I’d gotten there 10 minutes later? Coincidence. That’s all anything ever is. Nothing more than coincidence. There’s no such thing as fate. Nothing is meant to be.”