It Ends With Us

By: Adam Freed

The dust jacket of Colleen Hoover’s best selling romance novel It Ends With Us is a prime example of the dangers in judging a book by its cover.  The off white background is adorned with fonts and flowers of various shades of pink, screaming saccharine romance.  For those able to avoid falling into the age-old trope, the pages of Hoover’s novel reveal a Russian dolls story in which all expectations of traditional romance are cast asunder.  The powerhouse novel gracefully transitions to the silver screen lead by a vibrant and dynamic Blake Lively as Hoover’s heroine Lily Bloom.  Methodically paced early, director and co-Star Justin Baldoni’s film tells the story of a young lady who seems to have finally found peace and stability in the arms of a successful surgeon named Ryle (Baldoni).  It Ends With Us takes its time in planting the roots of a meaningful backstory that pays off as the narrative unfolds.  Less faithful romance novel screen adaptations tend to rush past the building of character in favor of serving audiences the meet cute they’ve come to expect.  Thankfully, Baldoni’s film, penned by Hoover, is a breath of fresh air as it avoids tropes in favor of a woven fabric of flashbacks and narrative advancement coyly framing the coming of age triumphs and tragedies of Lily’s younger years.  

Blake Lively (The Town, The Age of Adeline) and Isabella Ferrer, who plays Lily in flashback,  so perfectly wear the complexities of a heroine raised in a precarious environment.   It Ends With Us utilizes a non-linear narrative that unveils pertinent details thoughtfully yet sparingly.  The result is a methodically paced first act that favors building characters that are multifaceted and emotionally dynamic.  Every character in Hoover’s script has more to offer than initially meets the eye. This is epitomized by the supporting performance of Jenny Slate (Zootopia) who as Allysa is both Lily's best friend and Ryle’s sister.  This potential conflict of interest breathes both life and depth into the proceedings.  By wearing these two  conflicting hats, Slate’s character offers Lily a unique perspective, enabling her to deliver a sledgehammer performance in one of the film's most poignant and emotionally weighty scenes.

It Ends With Us is not the romantic foregone conclusion that its marketing materials make it out to be.  Blake Lively has never been better in a depiction that feels far more realistic in her treatment of the challenges that Lily faces in her budding relationship.  For every potentially frustrating decision her character makes, there is a narratively based motivation behind her actions.  There will inevitably be fans of Colleen Hoover’s source material that may not feel completely seen by Justin Baldoni’s film as is usually the case with page to screen adaptations.  There is a stronger likelihood however, that the film version of It Ends With Us will offer Hoover’s emotionally complex story to a more broad audience who will find joy in the realization that Lily Bloom’s story is one that cannot be judged by its cover.  

Target Score: 7/10 Blake Lively offers a layered and emotional performance in the screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s runaway best selling romance It Ends With Us.  Justin Baldoni’s film crafts a bevy of dynamic characters all of whom serve meaningful purpose in the woven fabric of one of the year’s best romances.