Despite the persistent grey and pestering rain, the 11th annual Wisconsin Film Festival kicked off in grand, if slightly wet, style Thursday. And the weather notwithstanding, if the turnout for the opening night special presentation of "500 Days of Summer" was any indication, this promises to be a big four days on the capital isthmus.

The scene

Collars turned up against the rain, it looked like a North Face commercial in production outside Madison's Orpheum Theater. Inside, once properly dried and appropriately lubricated (thanks to wine and PBR), the room hummed with anticipation. As moviegoers poured in, the red upholstery of the Orpheum's classic flip-down seats rapidly disappeared. Nearly at capacity, only the furthest outposts of the Orpheum's 1,500 seats remained empty.

Upon seeing WFF Director Meg Hamel take the stage for her opening remarks, the crowd erupted. After a few quick thank you's and a generally warm welcome, she introduced "500 Days of Summer" director and Madison West High School graduate Marc Webb.

Among several others, the hometown boy gave special thanks to everyone at West, to which an entire thundering section of the balcony promptly responded with a "Who's House?! West's House!" Welcomes and thanks and chants complete, down went the house lights and the 2009 Wisconsin Film Festival was officially off and rolling.

The film

A darling of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, director, Marc Webb, describes "500 Days of Summer" as "what happens when the life you expect collides with the life you encounter."

In this case, that sentiment plays out over the 500 days greeting card writer, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and executive assistant/bon vivant, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) spend together. The story is told in a somewhat non-linear fashion as it jumps forwards and back through the couple's relationship. In addition, Webb effectively makes use of nearly every film convention in the history of cinema in a seeming homage to both his, and the characters, love of film.

The script is a product of the writing duo of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and is as honest as it is charming. Neustadter and Weber are candidates for co-deans along with Nick Hornby ("High Fidelity") at the School of Romantic Comedies Guys Will Really Dig, Too.

Though not in need of it, their cause is immensely aided by the casting of Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel. Ten minutes in, the audience was in love with both of them. And more importantly they seemed to be in love with the idea of them as a couple. Gordon-Levitt smirking over his ever-present skinny ties and Deschanel, the pinnacle of an indie goddess, the two are effortlessly savvy while being appropriately cynical.

In all, the film succeeds at what Webb describes as "harnessing a barrage of pop culture," while being something entirely of its own.

Also notable

The crowd's response to the 30-second trailer for the festival just before the feature presentation.

A throwback to a '60s-style tourism ad for Wisconsin touting, among other things, the state's prominence in "heavy machinery" and "industry," the crowd roared as the screen flashed the gaudy lettered slogan, "Wisconsin: We Like it Here!"

Though it was supposed to be a cheeky promotion for the film festival, it seemed more like a real-time referendum on the state's new cartwheeling "Live Like You Mean It" slogan / debacle.

Today's picks

Film Possibly Worth Leaving the House For (in Madison):
"Goodbye Solo" -- 5:15 p.m. at the Stage Door Orpheum
Crotchety old white guy gets stuck living with a gregarious Senegalese cab driver. Tender moments and hilarity (hopefully) ensue.

Film Possibly Worth Driving From Milwaukee For:

"The Last Lullaby" -- 10 p.m. at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Sometime tabloid heel and mesmerizing actor, Tom Sizemore, is a guilt-ridden gun for hire, well past his prime. Guess what? He's back for one last job. Oh, and in the process, he (possibly) falls in love with a librarian. Written by "Road To Perdition" scribe Max Allan Collins this one might be worth the drive.