If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably been bombarded with video after video about It Ends With Us. An alleged feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has Twitter… well… atwitter. (We know, it’s called “X” now, but that wordplay wouldn’t have been as effective.) The chatter is relentless — but does the film really deserve all of that noise?
On the surface, the premise reads like a quintessential New Adult novel (because it is): our auburn-haired protagonist, Lily Bloom, moves to Boston to open her own flower shop (yes, really). After her father’s funeral, she meets Ryle Kincaid on a rooftop, a neurosurgeon who’s more about drop-kicking chairs than committing – an action that frankly tells us everything we need to know about his arc. While their first encounter goes nowhere, fate later pulls them back together through Wattpad-esque coincidences, and wouldn’t you know it, also bringing her face-to-face with her first love, Atlas Corrigan. Though it may sound like your typical Hallmark movie and soap opera, It Ends With Us is actually about domestic violence and the exploration of trauma. Needless to say, it is not supposed to be fluffy.
Unfortunately, the film drowns in this fluff, remaining firmly in rom-com territory even an hour into it. The need to contrast Lily’s initial happiness with its darker turns is understandable, but it takes far too long to make the shift and overstays that welcome. The romantic scenes, which are supposed to make us understand and believe in their connection, fall woefully short. Instead, we’re overwhelmed with endless montages of physical intimacy set to a soundtrack that’s tailored to its target audience. It ultimately feels depthless, leaving us one hour in with a mere surface-level grasp of the characters and the supposed allure of Lily and Ryle’s relationship.
This shallow approach permeates every corner of the film. Even with over two hours to work with, Lily Bloom remains a ghost of a character – she’s so fictitious it’s almost painful. Blake Lively never quite captures Lily’s essence, rendering her more like “Blake Lively in a red wig” than a fully realized protagonist. Atlas, portrayed by Brandon Sklenar, is squandered as a mere accessory instead of the pivotal figure he was in the book.
By the end, everyone is reduced to caricatures, trapped in a script that fails to make them believable or relatable. The dialogue often falls into the cringeworthy category, creating an inevitable disconnect that is particularly damaging given the film’s serious themes. Instead of getting bogged down in the steamy superficiality, the film would’ve been far better served by adapting the more critical parts of the book, injecting the story with the depth and authenticity it desperately needs.
As you’re watching It Ends With Us, you might feel as if you’re witnessing a tug-of-war between conflicting visions. Whether this stems from the rumored on-set dispute is anyone’s guess, but the result is a jumbled mess. On one hand, it seems to want to go all out and tackle its serious themes with the weight they deserve; on the other, it hesitates and falters by pulling its punches, particularly in how Ryle’s character is treated too kindly than the story demands.
The attempt to truly be impactful is further diluted by the absence of a disclaimer, trigger warning, or hotline until well after the credits. Compounding the issue are a series of questionable choices: Why so many close-ups? Why the handheld camera? Why another jarring needle drop? There’s also a somewhat intriguing narrative decision to portray gaslighting on screen, which, while bold, ends up feeling more disjointed than effective due to the messy nature of the movie. These choices sadly contribute to a collective sense of confusion, stripping the film of its potential to be truly hard-hitting.
On a positive note, It Ends With Us manages to present a slick, polished look despite its mere 25 million budget — if you can look past the atrocious wardrobe and hair choices. From the second act onward, some scenes are undeniably moving and gut-wrenching. They might even bring a tear to your eye. While it may not delve as deeply as it could, it serves as a solid first scoop for those unfamiliar with the complexities and prevalence of the issues at hand.
That said, amidst the swirling controversy and rumored feud, it’s disheartening to see how the film’s core message seems to have been lost in the noise. It Ends With Us could’ve had the chance to be a decent adaptation, one that could even surpass its source material, but it ultimately mirrors the mediocrity of the gossip surrounding it — a forgettable, inconsequential mess. That being said, the film might still be close to the heart for those who resonate with Lily’s experiences, so maybe don’t grab your florals, but grab your friends instead if you do decide to watch It Ends With Us.
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