“It Ends With Us”: The Overhyped Novel's Underwhelming Movie Adaptation

Director: Justin Baldoni
Rating: 6/10

“It Ends With Us,” the first Colleen Hoover novel to be adapted for the big screen, tells the poignant and deeply emotional story of Lily Bloom. A woman who has managed to overcome a traumatic childhood and is now chasing her dreams in Boston, including opening her own business. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Ryle Kincaid, a charming neurosurgeon. Their intense connection quickly blossoms into a passionate relationship. However, as Lily delves deeper into her relationship with Ryle, she begins to see troubling similarities to her parents’ tumultuous relationship. The plot thickens when Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan, reenters her life, forcing her to make challenging decisions about her future and her own strength.

As a film reviewer who has not read the source material due to a personal vendetta against the author, I took it upon myself to evaluate the film on its own merits. So, if you're expecting a comparison to the book, you won't find that here. This review is purely based on the film itself and my personal impressions. Any remarks saying "the book is better" won't resonate with me.

The film has three standout aspects: Blake Lively's performance, the soundtrack, and the cinematography. Firstly, Blake Lively's portrayal of Lily Bloom is commendable. She brings a sense of authenticity and depth to the character that is both endearing and convincing. Lively manages to capture the nuances of a woman who has endured trauma and abuse without resorting to melodrama. Her subtle expressions and mannerisms effectively convey Lily's complex emotional landscape, making her performance the film's strongest suit. Without resorting to melodrama, Lively's portrayal feels both raw and genuine, which is crucial for a character with such a disturbing background.

Secondly, the soundtrack is a significant highlight. Featuring songs by Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain, the music adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative. The soundtrack is so compelling that it occasionally overshadows the dialogue, but this is a forgivable flaw. In many instances, the music is more engaging than the actual conversations between characters, it kinda sucks but it enhances the overall experience for audiences like me who enjoy pop music. 

Lastly, Justin Baldoni’s direction and use of handheld camerawork add a raw, realistic edge to the film. The naturalistic lighting and intimate camera angles make the film feel more grounded and relatable, which is crucial for a story that deals with heavy themes like trauma and abuse.

Columbia Pictures

Despite these strengths, the film has several notable weaknesses that detract from its overall impact. The narrative devices used in the film are glaringly obvious, and the dialogues often come across as pretentious. This pretentiousness, at times, borders on the ridiculous, making it difficult to take the characters seriously. While the film aims to address important issues such as trauma and generational curses, the execution is far from seamless. The blend of these themes feels forced, and the film struggles to do justice to the weighty subject matter of the source material.

One of the most evident issues is the film's runtime. At two hours, the film feels unnecessarily long and repetitive. The pacing is inconsistent, with a drawn-out opening sequence that takes up the first ten minutes, followed by a rushed progression through key points in Lily and Ryle's relationship. This hurried pace leaves little room for character development, making it hard for the audience to fully grasp Lily's trauma or the depth of her connection with Ryle. The lack of chemistry between the two leads further undermines the film's romantic subplot. The characterization is another weak point. The film barely allows the audience to process Lily's traumatic past before plunging her into a whirlwind romance with Ryle. This rushed approach makes their "deep" love for each other seem superficial and unconvincing. The reintroduction of Atlas Corrigan into Lily's life, while intended to create conflict, feels more like a plot device than a meaningful part of the story. After all, the film does revolve around the story of Lily, so it’s understandable that all characters, aside from Lily, are just background characters with little to no impact on the film. The film could have benefited from being 30 minutes shorter. With its 2-hour runtime, it felt overly long and repetitive, often going in circles without adding much to the story.

In conclusion, “It Ends With Us” is a film that falls short of its potential. While it has its redeeming qualities—primarily Blake Lively's performance, the soundtrack, and cinematography—it is ultimately a forgettable and predictable story. The film's length and pacing issues, combined with its pretentious dialogues and lack of character development, make it a shallow and, at times, boring experience. For those who have not read the book and are looking for a film that tackles heavy themes with emotional depth, “It Ends With Us” may still offer some emotional resonance. It has the potential to pull at the heartstrings and take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. However, for viewers seeking substance and a more nuanced portrayal of trauma and relationships, the film is likely to disappoint.

“It Ends With Us” can be seen as part of the "once beloved book turned into a film disaster" club. It serves as a reminder that not all popular novels translate well to the big screen. While the film does honor the heaviness and relevance of the theme to some extent, it ultimately lacks the depth and coherence needed to make it a truly memorable cinematic experience.