Director: Marc Webb.

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler.

THE genres romantic-comedy and coming-of-age story would have some people running for the hills, but don't - instead run to the new release shelves for this Gen X/Gen Y Annie Hall.

Witty, charming and moving, (500) Days Of Summer is a realistic retelling of a boy-meets-girl tale that features some inspired surreal moments that just make the whole thing all the more real and compelling.

Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, a greeting card writer in search of "the one" (as the wonderfully dry narrator tells us) who finds himself working alongside the vibrant and pixie-ish Summer (Deschanel). As the story skips back and forth throughout the 500 days (with some helpful title cards to help us keep track) we see their relationship blossom, stumble and eventually come to an unexpected but satisfactory end.

(500) Days Of Summer ticks every box. The script is smart and savvy, filled with a dry wit and the requisite mix of sweet and sour, as well as being told with a clever non-linear approach that keeps you guessing.

Webb's direction is not just astute but comes with some neat out-of-the-ordinary tricks including a surprise dance sequence, a split-screen scene, some to-camera doco-style moments and even a neat parody/homage to European cinema.

Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are perfectly cast. Not only are they a good fit as the central couple but they give natural and believable performances.

It's hard to fault this film, which comes with the requisite indie soundtrack, and while it's reminiscent of the likes of Annie Hall, High Fidelity and Garden State, it also feels refreshingly real and honest, which is pretty impressive considering how old and tired the rom-com has become in recent years.