"This is not a love story. This is a story about love," reads the tagline for the 2009 rom-com-drama (500) Days of Summer, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tom) and Zooey Deschanel (Summer). The plot is simple, and clearly considers itself both real and relatable, especially compared to other rom-coms: Boy (JGL) is obsessed with his vision of love, its magical qualities, its inevitability, its all-powerful ability to make everything shiny. Boy imposes this fantasy on a girl (Zooey) he finds cute. She makes it quite clear she doesn't want a relationship. He agrees, thinking he can change her. He cannot; his heart is broken.
The who-is-bad, who-is-good debate about the two main characters of the movie has endured since the movie's release. Did Summer lead Tom on, only to break his heart? Is Tom at fault for thinking he can change Summer at all?
Yesterday, JGL responded to a fan's Tweet from January, posted by a random Twitter user with 500 followers. It read, "Still haven't forgiven Zooey Deschanel for what she did to Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer."
JGL—bless his heart—responded, refuting the Tweet completely. "Watch it again," he wrote. "It's mostly Tom's fault. He's projecting. Luckily, he grows by the end."
Watch it again. It’s mostly Tom’s fault. He’s projecting. He’s not listening. He’s selfish. Luckily he grows by the end. https://t.co/lEJ8uXlpJwAugust 6, 2018
He does grow by the end: Summer dumps him and he enters into a state of absolute despair. He drinks, he eats Twinkies, he designs large buildings with chalk, he gets over it with painstakingly slow progress.
Then, in the final scene, he meets a girl. Yes, another girl. "Hi, I'm Autumn," she says. Bingo.
RELATED STORY
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Zoe is a contributing writer at MarieClaire.com; she covers celebrity and news. She loves sneakers and nicely organized bookshelves.
-
Paris Hilton Is Finally Ready to Share Her Daughter With the World
Hilton shared why she chose the name London, who her daughter resembles, and the special significance behind her birthdate.
By Fleurine Tideman Published
-
Kim Kardashian Confirms to Jimmy Kimmel Whether the Weirdest Rumors About Her Are True or Not
Emphasis on the WEIRDEST rumors.
By Fleurine Tideman Published
-
Cute Summer Outfits From the Runways With Real-Life Appeal
From beach bumming to al fresco dining.
By Emma Childs Published
-
How Timothée Chalamet's "Emotional Intelligence" Will Transform the Character of Willy Wonka
Literally perfect casting.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Adam Sandler Brought His Wife Jackie and Lookalike Daughter Sunny to 'The Out-Laws' Premiere
So cute!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Nicholas Hoult Told Toni Collette He Still Thinks of Her as His Mom When He Watches One of Her Movies
I love this so much.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Alicia Silverstone Would Totally Do a Sequel to The '90s Rom-Com She Starred In Opposite Brendan Fraser
Did you guys know about this movie??
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Jennifer Grey Spotted Someone Watching 'Dirty Dancing' on a Plane on Valentine's Day
Fact: This is the best thing that's ever happened.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Jennifer Coolidge Would Definitely Be "On Board" to Film 'Legally Blonde 3'
YES!!!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Salma Hayek Says Channing Tatum Almost "Killed" Her During a Lap Dance for 'Magic Mike's Last Dance'
LOL, Salma.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston Are Body-Swapping in an Upcoming Comedy, And It Might Be the Best News I've Ever Received
Clearly, I've lived an uneventful life.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published