It Ends with US
Allison Reyes
ENGL 2101
Professor Jane
April 09, 2025
It Ends With Us (Movie) – Also Ended With Our Expectations
Caption: It Ends With Us is a movie cover directed by Justin Baldoni.
Justin Baldoni is an actor, director, producer, and author. His role as Rafael Solano on the TV series Jane the Virgin pushed his acting career in the industry. Besides It Ends With Us, he has also directed other well-known films like Five Feet Apart (2019) and Clouds (2020). He also co-founded the production company Wayfarer Studios. Baldoni also wrote two books, Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity and Boys Will Be Human. In It Ends With Us, Blake Lively plays Lily Bloom, a resilient and complex woman who is one of quiet suffering, emotional growth, and the courage it takes to break free, not just for survival, but for peace, in this perplexing adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel.
Lily Bloom is a woman who moves to Boston to start a new life, opening a flower shop and becoming close friends with Allysa Kincaid. Lily falls in love with Ryle Kincaid, a charming neurosurgeon and the brother of Allysa. However, their relationship takes a turn when Ryle’s behavior reminds Lily of her abusive childhood, and her first love, Atlas Corrigan, who rents her life. Lily must decide whether to stay with Ryle or leave, potentially ending the cycle of abuse she witnessed as a child. The movie focuses on overcoming adversity and self-discovery of a character who is strengthened through pain, suffering, and trauma, leading to emotional growth and breaking free from the notion of abusive and toxic relationships.
The movie was acceptable, however, it lacked a strong emotional bond and a deep understanding of each character. While it did touch on some meaningful themes, the character development felt shallow and rushed. There wasn’t enough buildup to truly understand their motivations, struggles, or growth. As a result, their actions often felt disconnected and unclear from earlier parts of the movie. Even though the film attempted to demonstrate each character’s journey, it didn’t fully capture their inner world or relationships compellingly. This left the overall narrative feeling somewhat bland and emotionally flat, which made it hard to connect with their experiences. A more intentional focus on character arcs and emotional progression would have added depth and made the story more impactful, engaging, or memorable. The acting was acceptable as the actors were able to show what an abusive relationship looks like, but it felt like there needed to be more emotion and physical depth because it felt like it only touched the surface, for example, injuries, lies, and decision-making.
The vocals of each actor seemed to be good as they showed a clear tone and emotional expression of each character. However, the script felt rushed because there wasn’t enough background, in particular, for characters like Atlas and Lily, who seemed to have a stronger connection because of their past, but it was not shown completely. The relationship between Lily and Ryle wasn’t enough to build on because it felt like it didn’t reach the climax, and only touched the surface of what an abusive and toxic relationship is. This concludes that I wouldn’t recommend It Ends With Us, because it is not well developed based on the main topic that it should be focused on. It was vague and lacked general and fundamental details to be able to be considered a good film.
The target audience for this film is individuals who have read It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover or individuals who are interested in romance, drama, and life lessons, as it talks about violence and attachment issues. This film’s genre is romance, drama, and melodrama. Written by Christy Hall, with a contribution from Ryan Reynolds. The costume designer was Eric Daman, who focused on the designs of each character.
In It Ends With Us, Ellen is the person Lily writes letters to as a way to process her experiences, especially her turbulent relationship with her father and her growing feelings for Atlas. Ellen becomes a confidante and a source of comfort for Lily during her difficult adolescence. However, in the movie, Ellen is not mentioned often compared to the book. Additionally, the phrase “the naked truth” represents the uncomfortable and often painful realities that are hidden behind the surface of a relationship, especially in the context of domestic abuse and trauma. These truths, often involving secrets and suppressed emotions, build tension and eventually lead to heartbreak as they are forced into the light.
Work Cited
Lang, Cady. “Differences Between ‘It Ends With Us’ Book and Movie.” TIME, 11 Apr. 2024, https://time.com/it-ends-with-us-book-vs-movie.
“Naked Truths Theme in It Ends with Us.” LitCharts, https://www.litcharts.com/lit/it-ends-with-us/themes/naked-truths.
Yandoli, Krystie Lee. “‘It Ends With Us’ Screenwriter Hopes Movie Destigmatizes Domestic Violence.” TIME, 12 Apr. 2024, https://time.com/it-ends-with-us-domestic-violence-message.
Lang, Cady. “Breaking Down Blake Lively’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Costumes.” TIME, 13 Apr. 2024, https://time.com/it-ends-with-us-blake-lively-costumes.
