Review of 'It Ends With Us' Starring Blake Lively

In the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel "It Ends With Us," Blake Lively stars as Lily, a flower shop owner grappling with the death of her abusive father. The story unfolds on a Boston rooftop, where Lily encounters Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon played by Justin Baldoni, who also directs the film. Their immediate attraction is complicated by Lily's past and the presence of her high school sweetheart, Atlas, portrayed by Brandon Sklenar. The film attempts to blend romantic comedy with serious themes of domestic violence and female empowerment, but struggles to maintain a cohesive narrative. The film touches on heavy topics such as suicide, homelessness, and generational trauma, yet often veers into melodrama without fully exploring these issues. While it effectively portrays the lingering effects of domestic violence on survivors, the pacing suffers, with a runtime exceeding two hours that feels unnecessarily drawn out. Sudden scene cuts and tangential storylines leave viewers disoriented, detracting from the film's emotional impact. Additionally, the film's production choices raise questions, such as the inconsistent use of Carhartt branding, which seems misplaced for the characters' backgrounds. The makeup team also faced the challenge of de-aging Lively and Sklenar for flashback scenes, adding to the film's unevenness. Ultimately, while "It Ends With Us" aims to deliver a poignant message, it falls short in execution, leaving audiences wanting a more refined exploration of its complex themes.