Manic Pixie Dream Girl
The film 500 Days of Summer is one the most misunderstood films in recent years. Misunderstood because it did something very powerful, that few people seemed to have noticed. People generally reached two conclusions about 500 Days of Summer; Summer is a bitch who treated Tom terribly, or that Tom is an idiot. Additionally, almost everyone thinks that Summer is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, regardless of whether or not she is a bitch. A Manic Pixie Dream Girl is described as a stock character that has existed for a very long time, but was only identified about a decade ago. Basically, she is a quirky, attractive, fun and loving gal who is perfect in every way, including perfect for the hero, whom she adores. In addition to this, her main purpose in life is to complete him. She is whatever he needs, so he can grow. The character represents a certain wish fulfilment from the writer, someone probably with demons who longs for a girl to complete him. Think Sam from the film Garden State. And Manic Pixie Dream Boys also exist, but they are much rarer.
So, is Summer a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, or is she a bitch? Is Tom a victim, or is he an idiot? It is easy to answer these questions based on our own experiences, but what about what the film itself has to say? It turns out that hidden under the surface 500 Days of Summer is doing something very specific, something that answers all these questions and then some. To understand this, the film’s perspective must be analyzed. Because movies are made with cameras and cameras are inherently subjective, movies are inherently subjective as well. There are two ways filmmakers can deal with this. One is to mitigate it and try to make the film as objective as possible, and the other is to use it to their advantage, to use the subjectiveness to make the film better. 500 Days of Summer chooses the latter. Not only that, it does so through only one character. This is in opposition to most romances, which are usually depicted from both the male and female’s perspective. In this film, however, the audiences only experience what Tom experiences. The film is not subtle about it either. The scene where Tom walks down the city street after being broken up is particularly powerful, it is Tom’s darkest moment and as such, the colour is literally removed from the film. It is not just these more extreme moments, everything in this film takes Tom’s perspective. This is most directly shown in the fact that Tom is in every scene. If Tom is not there experiencing the events himself, the scene isn’t in the film. The cinematography also reflects Tom’s perspective. Los Angeles is depicted much more beautifully than an objective view would show, because Tom is a romantic and that’s how he sees the world. This is especially true when he is with Summer; Tom and Summer’s scenes contain many of the most beautiful shots in the film. Likewise, the sound design reflects Tom’s perspective, specifically this whistle, which occurs whenever Summer inspires Tom, but never the other way around. Even the music represents Tom, sometimes the lyrics literally saying what he is feeling.
I’m the hero of this story, don’t need to be saved. I’m the hero of this story, don’t need to be saved.
It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
And the title cards reflect him too, the colour behind them matching the quality of the day he is having.
Yet is not just structure and technique that are depicted through Tom’s perspective, everything is. Everything, including the other characters. McKenzie is the lovable loser because that’s how Tom sees him. Paul is the loyal friend because that’s how Tom sees him. Vance is the dopey boss because that’s how Tom sees him. Rachel is a relationship expert because that’s how Tom sees her. And most importantly, Summer is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl because that’s how Tom sees her. Objectively, Summer is not a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. This is because even though she is quirky and fun, she also has her own wants and desires; she doesn’t exist just to complete Tom.
You don’t believe that a woman could enjoy being free and independent?
Tom however, does not see this, he sees her as everything he wants, regardless of her own wants and needs.
I love how she makes me feel.
and
I know that she’s the only person in the entire universe that will make me happy.
show that it is always about him. Even when Summer finally opens up and is vulnerable with Tom and confesses,
I’ve never told anybody that before.
it’s still about him, not her.
Well, I guess I’m not just anybody.
he replies. This is a major reason why their relationship fails. Tom doesn’t understand love; he simply sees women as Manic Pixie Dream Girls.
Just listen to what he has to say on the matter, him versus Paul, Paul addresses the fantasy dream girl directly,
I think technically the girl of my dreams would probably have, like, a really bodacious rack, you know, maybe different hair, she’d probably be a little more into sports. But truthfully, Robin is better than the girl of my dreams. She’s real.
while Tom has nothing to say at all.
Though while a lesser film might end here, 500 Days of Summer keeps going, for in the end, this happens. Tom bumps into Summer after their breakup.
Summer!
I really do hope that you’re happy.
For the first time, Tom and Summer’s relationship is about her, not him. This is possible because Tom has matured; he no longer sees girls as Manic Pixie Dream Girls. Remember in the beginning, when the narrator says this: This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know up front, this is not a love story. He was right. This isn’t a love story, it is a coming of age film; the film is about Tom becoming an adult, something he did during his 500 days of Summer. To show it succinctly, compare the cowardly way he asked out Summer and the better way he did with Autumn, the girl after Summer.
So, going back to the original questions. Was Tom an idiot? No, he simply had yet to grow up. Was Summer a bitch? Honestly, that is unknown, as there was not even close to an objective view of her. Is Summer a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Definitely not, that is simply how Tom saw her, even though she actually was a lot more. More important than all this, none of these questions are even what the film is about; the film is not about Tom and Summer, this film is about Tom, the film is not about love, or finding your soulmate, it is about growing up.
