It Ends With Us Pre-Review
You know that feeling when you love a book, and it is turned into a movie? You are freaking out with excitement, shrinking with dread. That just happened with me and “It Ends With Us,” and let me tell you, this film adaptation blew my mind.
A Faithful Retelling
First things first—if you’re a fan of Colleen Hoover’s novel, just relax, it stays true to the very essence of the story, capturing all those gut-punching moments that made the book so powerful. But on the other hand, if you have never heard of CoHo, as the fans used to say, this film by itself as a drama is going to keep you hooked to your seat.
That Chemistry between the Lead pair that Sizzles
So let’s talk about this cast, because, man, did they ever nail it. Blake Lively as Lily Bloom? Sort of perfect. She brings with her a sense of vulnerability and strength that drags one in, no matter how hard one tries to resist. And Justin Baldoni from Ryle Kincaid? Man, this guy had me so torn in all the right ways—you like him one minute, and the next, you want to throw popcorn at the screen.
The real surprise for me, though, was Brandon Sklenar as Atlas. This man’s got some serious smolder game, and his scenes with Lively just crackle, Camp. The way these three play off each other? Chef’s kiss.
Behind the Camera Magic
Now, I’ll admit I was skeptical when I heard Colleen Hoover herself was directing. Authors turning director doesn’t always come off, you know? But, color me impressed. She brings intimacy to the film that you could more or less pointedly say came from really knowing these characters inside and out.
The way Boston is shot in this movie, though—damn. It’s like the city becomes a character itself, all moody and atmospheric. Some scenes don’t need any lines at all; the lighting and composition say it all. Serious good stuff.
The Tough Stuff: Handling the Tough Stuff
It deals with some pretty heavy stuff: domestic abuse and trauma, all that fun stuff. BUT here’s the thing: at no point in time does it come off preachy or like you’re watching one of those after-school specials. The way that it works out someone’s reasons for staying in a bad situation is real and messy, just like real life.
And then Ryle? They so could have put him in as a cartoonish villain, but none of that. He is the most complicated of them all, making the tale resonate in a manner that leaves one occasionally highly uncomfortable to watch and yet makes the mind think long after the credits are done rolling.
Music to My Ears
Can we talk about this soundtrack for just a hot second? Because damn. Whoever is doing the music placement on this show deserves a raise. There’s this one song that plays during this big Lily and Atlas scene, and swear to God, I was full-on ugly crying in the theater. No shame.
The Verdict: Go See It, Like, Now
Bottom line: “It Ends with Us” is the real deal. It’s one of those very few adaptations that not only does justice to the book but also independently works as a film that will make you both laugh and cry throughout—probably enough to want to call up your best friend afterwards to process all of it.
Whether you are Team Ryle, Team Atlas, or here for the drama, this movie delivers. Just don’t make it a first date movie, okay? And seriously, have tissues. You’ll thank me later.
P.S. If you are like me at all—hit up Spotify immediately to find that soundtrack as you walk out of the theater—you’re welcome in advance.
