We begin our discussion by noting that this is a bonus podcast episode to cover the recently released film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s wildly popular novel It Ends With Us. We acknowledge the film’s heavy subject matter, particularly domestic violence, and provide a content warning.
The film has received mixed critical reviews but very positive audience scores so far. We express our pleasant surprise at the quality romance book adaptation, despite not loving the original book.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
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It Ends With Us Movie Summary
We provide an overview of the main plot and characters. Lily Bloom moves to Boston to open a flower shop and meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. They begin a relationship that initially seems perfect. Lily runs into her first love Atlas, causing tension with Ryle. As the story progresses, Ryle becomes increasingly jealous and controlling, and incidents of physical abuse begin to occur in their relationship.
Lily becomes pregnant and has to make difficult decisions about her future. We discuss how the film excellently portrays the nuances and complexities of abusive relationships. The characters feel realistic and three-dimensional rather than stereotypes, making the portrayal of an abusive relationship dynamic feel grounded rather than like the supervillain arcs so often seen in films.
Thematic Elements
We highlight several key themes and aspects of how the film portrays domestic abuse. These include the gradual escalation and cycle of abuse, how victims often blame themselves or make excuses for abusers, the difficulty of leaving abusive relationships (especially with pregnancy involved), intergenerational trauma and how abuse can be passed down in families, and the psychological and emotional manipulation involved in abusive dynamics.
We praise the film for showing these complexities rather than presenting a simple black-and-white view. It demonstrates how abusers are not always overtly villainous and can have traumatic pasts themselves, while still not excusing their behavior.
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Acting Performances and Character Development
The strong performances and character development are discussed, particularly for Lily and Ryle. Blake Lively portrays Lily’s increasing fear and anxiety very effectively, while Justin Baldoni shows Ryle’s descent into abusive behavior in a nuanced way.
The chemistry between the actors initially makes the relationship feel authentic. Supporting characters like Alyssa (Jenny Slate) are also well-developed. We note how the film allows us to see why Lily initially falls for Ryle before the abuse begins, making her situation more understandable.
Comparing the film to the original novel, we note several changes and improvements. The pacing and structure work better as a film, some plot elements are simplified or altered slightly, the characters feel more three-dimensional and realistic on screen, and the emotional impact is heightened through the visual medium.
Overall, we agree the adaptation elevates the source material and treats the subject matter with more nuance and sensitivity than the book.
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Emotional Impact and Personal Reflections
We share our personal emotional reactions to the film. It was unexpectedly moving and upsetting to watch at times, with certain scenes being very difficult to watch, especially for those with personal experiences of abuse. The film triggered memories and feelings related to walking on eggshells around volatile people.
We felt invested in Lily’s journey and choices. We express that the film’s ability to elicit such strong emotions speaks to its effectiveness in portraying this subject matter.
In conclusion, we reiterate our pleasant surprise at how well-done this adaptation of It Ends With Us was, especially given our mixed feelings about the book. We praise the nuanced portrayals of complex issues around domestic violence and how it avoids simplistic characterizations.
We express hope that if more Colleen Hoover adaptations are made, they will maintain this level of quality and sensitivity in dealing with heavy subject matter. Overall, we highly recommend the film, while acknowledging it can be emotionally difficult to watch at times due to its realistic depiction of abuse.
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