It Ends With Us (2024)

With the rise of domestic violence to a crisis level in our society, it is great to see a movie on our screens that deals with this issue. It Ends With Us, which has been adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel, is a poignant drama that explores the complexities of love, trauma, and resilience. We follow Lily Bloom after she moves to Boston to start a new life in the florist business. She meets a charming neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid, and quickly becomes romantically involved. As their relationship grows, Lily has to grapple with echoes of her troubled past and the potential for a future marred by toxic patterns in her new relationship.

There are some strong performances in It Ends With Us. Blake Lively (The Age of Adeline and The Shadows), along with the rest of the cast, give us characters who are complex and emotionally charged. For me, Lively stands out and I particularly warmed to the character of Allysa, a friend and colleague who works with Lily in the florist shop, played by Jenny Slate. She brought some much-needed vitality and humour to the story.

I do think that there could have been more development of Ryle’s background. Lily’s complex portrayal of a survivor grappling with trust issues is very good, but Ryle’s character arc feels somewhat underdeveloped. I think this is a shame given that there has been little focus in our society on the motivations and histories of males who perpetrate violence. It Ends With Us does, though, provide some insight into an event in Ryle’s history, which I will let you discover if you watch the movie.

It Ends With Us tackles some very universal issues: love, loss, the search for identity, and, of course, domestic violence. The domestic violence issue is dealt with much more gently than it might have been, which may be okay given that there will probably be audience members who have, or are experiencing, domestic violence in their own lives. The cinematography visually reflects the emotional intensity of the story without being gratuitous in its portrayal of violence.

If you regularly watch romantic dramas, you may find that some of the plot elements are very familiar. At over two hours, the movie does feel a bit too long, and a tighter narrative focus would have created a more intense experience, in my view. The emotional intensity sometimes borders on excessive melodrama, which may alienate some viewers.

It Ends With Us is, in some ways, constrained by its rating, which recommends a lower-aged audience. But at least this allows for younger teens to be able to see a movie that is focused on an issue that is important for the age group in terms of their current and future relationships. It is a well-intentioned film that raises important issues, but its shortcomings prevent it from reaching its full potential. Nonetheless, it serves as a starting point for conversations about domestic violence and its devastating consequences. While It Ends With Us effectively addresses the pressing issue of domestic violence, its melodramatic tendencies and familiar plot hinder its potential to be a truly impactful film.