Tom believes in destiny and "the one," while Summer is upfront about not wanting a serious relationship.
A famous split-screen sequence highlights how Tom's hopes for a reconciliation differ from what actually happens.
The "Expectations vs. Reality" split-screen sequence is the ultimate visual representation of Tom's inability to see the world as it actually is. Rotten Tomatoes 2. The Deconstruction of Romantic Tropes The movie famously opens with a disclaimer: "This is not a love story" The Graduate Connection: Tom’s misunderstanding of the movie The Graduate
Yes. A thousand times yes. The film is not a romance; it is a wake-up call. It teaches you that "the one" is a construction of narrative fallacy. As the narrator says at the start: "This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know upfront, this is not a love story."