Zooey Deschanel is so 4th of July. She’s so sunscreen. She’s so … Summer.
The indie heartthrob, of course, plays the titular role alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “(500) Days of Summer,” which isn’t really about a season at all. The quirky love flick — open in Chicago this weekend and elsewhere in limited release — isn’t the first time a lady named for the warmest season of the year has made a splash on the big screen. Here now, RedEye’s five favorite Summers in pop culture. (What, you were expecting 500?)
MEET THE SUMMERS
Summer Falls from “Superstar” (1999)
Played by: Karyn Dwyer
Back story: Remember this quasi-cheerleading comedy from Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon? Summer was one of Mary Katherine Gallagher’s nemeses.
Summer Roberts from “The O.C.” (2003)
Played by: Rachel Bilson
Back story: You wouldn’t think the popularity-focused high schooler would be a good fit for sarcastic indie nerd Seth, but she totally was.
Summer Hathaway from “School of Rock” (2003)
Played by: Miranda Cosgrove
Back story: She played alongside Jack Black in this music hit from a few years back. Now she’s the star of Nickelodeon’s “iCarly.” And no, don’t ask us why we know that.
Summer Wheatly from “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004)
Played by: Haylie Duff
Back story: Nobody wanted to be class president more than this overachiever. What a jerk!
Summer Hartley from “Definitely, Maybe” (2008)
Played by: Rachel Weisz
Back story: Was she the mother of Ryan Reynolds’ kid in this off-beat romantic flick? We’ll never tell.
SHADES OF SUMMER
When movie makers name a character Summer, they have to know the audience has a certain idea about how that character will act. RedEye boiled down a few Summer traits to see who did — and didn’t — fit the mold.
Summer Roberts: Bitchy, better off, super smart, hard to get
Summer Falls: Bitchy, better off
Summer Wheatly: Bitchy, blond, better off, hard to get
Summer Hathaway: Better off, super smart
Summer Hartley: Better off, super smart, hard to get
Summer: Hard to get
