A faithful adaptation of the source material that handles the more sensitive moments with sensitivity, It ends with us is an emotional look at domestic violence and healing from generational trauma, bolstered by strong performances from its lead actors.
Film review of “It Ends With Us”
Anyone who spends time on BookTok knows the name Colleen Hoover, aka CoHo. Her novels have sold over 20 million copies worldwide, with It Ends With Us being the most popular, so it’s not surprising that this was the first of her romance novels to be picked up in Hollywood. With a built-in fan base, called CoHort, of course, the film is poised to be a late-summer hit. But as with any jump from book to screen, there are hurdles that must be overcome to satisfy both longtime fans and viewers entering this world for the first time. In the case of Hoover’s bestseller, there are additional challenges. Some readers see it as a cathartic, beautiful story about overcoming abuse, while others feel it rather glamorizes it. Armed with a slick script by “Daddio” filmmaker Christy Hall, sensitive direction, and Blake Lively’s powerful performance, the film handles the subject with care, sensitivity, and the right amount of levity.
It Ends With Us is a faithful adaptation of the original, with some aspects (like the characters’ ages and certain events) changed to make the film flow more smoothly. All of the iconic lines and moments that made the book so beloved by readers are all there. Hall’s script walks the line between fan service and acknowledging the rather ridiculous nature of the romance novel’s premise – Lily Blossom Bloom is a florist and her lover is a guy who looks like he belongs on General Hospital, so, come on. However, it’s really the performances of Lively, Justin Baldoni (who pulls double duty as co-star and director), and the rest of the cast that bring the whole thing to life like flowers in bloom (couldn’t help it, sorry).
Lily Bloom’s (Lively) father (Kevin McKidd) recently died, but she’s unable to grieve. After climbing to a rooftop to process her feelings, she meets Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), a commitment-averse neurosurgeon who looks like he belongs in a soap opera, not outer space. Their first interaction is almost the perfect definition of a meet-cute. The flirting is heavy, the lingering glances fuel the sexual tension, and those who don’t know better keep their fingers crossed that these two end up together. They do end up in a relationship that seems idyllic, until it isn’t. After a fateful day that ends with a meeting with her first love, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), this romance veers into dark and sinister territory. Suddenly, Lily realizes she’s living a life similar to her mother’s, domestic violence and all.
It’s a delicate and sensitive subject that needs to be treated with respect both in the way it’s portrayed on screen and in the way the actors handle their respective roles in the trauma. To lay the groundwork, Lily’s childhood is woven into a series of flashbacks that reveal the abuse she witnessed as a child. It also serves as an introduction to the one person who has always been a light in her life – Atlas (played as a teenager by Alex Neustaedter, alongside Isabela Ferrer as young Lily). From these moments, we learn how strong their bond is and why, when Atlas sees her today, he immediately goes into protector mode at the sight of her black eye. The plot is full of romance novel cliches, but Baldoni chooses to frame everything very carefully and always from Lily’s perspective. Every camera angle and close-up is intentionally filmed to harmonize with Lily’s state of mind. At first, the abuse seems random as she tries to understand the situation through the lens of love for this man. Confirmation that he did indeed do this to her comes in the third act, when Lily herself realizes the truth.
As for the abuse itself, Baldoni’s approach to exposing it not only keeps the film a PG-13 rating, but also means it’s not particularly disturbing for viewers. Don’t be fooled, it’s still provocative. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails left marks on my skin as Lily begged Ryle to leave her alone. But I was also grateful that I didn’t get to see the carnage of abuse that a harsher rating would have allowed. The film’s messages come across without the unnecessary violence, and for that I’m grateful.
I can’t stress enough how incredible Lively is as Lily, with her red hair, infectious grin, and witty charm. It’s equally amazing and heartbreaking to watch her play out. Her chemistry with each of her lovers is different, but strong nonetheless. Baldoni makes it easy to understand how Lily could miss these warning signs and fall for this man. He’s more than just a handsome, violent man, but at the same time, your sympathy for him lasts about as long as a frittata should bake. Baldoni holds back Ryle’s dark side until it becomes obvious to Lily, and then he wears it around his neck like a tie. Sklenar’s Atlas is everything a book boyfriend should be – sweet, kind, understanding, strong, and handsome. Unfortunately, he’s underused, but don’t worry, the book has a sequel (It Begins With Us), which means we could get more interactions between Lily and Atlas in the future.
To be honest, the book never spoke to me. I knew what it was about, and as a survivor, it wasn’t something I was particularly interested in reading. I take my Sarah J. Maas books, where the Bat Boys are in charge and I don’t have to think about the harsh truths of reality. But I’m a firm believer in reading books before watching the film adaptation. I was hesitant, but I did, and I have to say that reading it helped prepare me for the more provocative aspects of the film. As I sat there, I wasn’t crying, nor was I sad, but angry. Angry that it happened to me, and angry that it would happen to anyone. So I hope the film, like the book, encourages those who need it to get help.
Verdict
It Ends With Us isn’t just a story about overcoming generational trauma and escaping domestic violence. It’s also a loving reminder to know your worth and love all the parts of yourself that make you, you. It’s a film that will make you cry, laugh, and cry some more (or make you angry if you’re anything like me). Thankfully, the more ridiculous aspects of the novel are acknowledged, making them funny instead of embarrassing. Despite the darker plot, this film, like its source material, is designed to shed light on that darkness and prove that something beautiful can grow in the harshest of places.
It Ends with Us will be released in theaters on Friday, August 9. The film is rated PG-13 due to domestic violence, sexual content, and some strong language and has a running time of 2 hours and 10 minutes.
