It Ends With Us’ Best Easter Egg Is A Finding Nemo Reference, And Justin Baldoni Told Me Exactly Why

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It Ends With Us' Best Easter Egg Is A Finding Nemo Reference, And Justin Baldoni Told Me Exactly Why

As a die-hard fan of both Colleen Hoover’s novels and Pixar’s masterpieces, I must say that the inclusion of the subtle “Finding Nemo” Easter egg in “It Ends With Us” was nothing short of brilliant! It’s a testament to the director’s dedication to the source material and his understanding of the emotional significance of this particular reference.

Although the film version of “It Ends With Us” stays true to Colleen Hoover’s novel, every book-to-screen adaptation undergoes alterations. Regrettably, certain details from the book, such as Lily’s journals and her and Atal’s affection for “Finding Nemo,” had to be omitted in the movie. However, when I interviewed Justin Baldoni, the director of “It Ends With Us,” regarding its release on the 2024 film schedule, I was curious about any Easter eggs and he revealed a significant reference to the book’s fondness for the Pixar movie.

As a gaming enthusiast, one of the coolest movie easter eggs I adore is definitely the Finding Nemo poster hidden away. Being a fan of that animated masterpiece myself, spotting it was a delightful surprise. Although Lily and Atlas’ connection to it changed dramatically in It Ends With Us, Baldoni assured me during our TopMob interview that they didn’t abandon the idea entirely. He mentioned his desire to “scatter Easter eggs like confetti” throughout the movie, and that ambition was fulfilled with a charming Dory poster nestled within Atlas’ restaurant.

The first occasion when Lily encounters Atlas once more is at the restaurant where they reconnect. They converse near the restroom, and a poster is prominently displayed in the scene that mirrors the movie scene from Finding Nemo without being an exact match but sharing a strong similarity.

Indeed, upon a careful examination when Atlas and Lily reunite at his eatery Root, you’ll notice a poster of a blue tang fish displayed in the backdrop. The quote hints at the theme of swimming ahead, although it doesn’t exactly echo “just keep swimming.” This subtle deviation from the original phrase was Baldoni’s intention to avoid direct resemblance, as he shared with me.

In an effort to avoid making it too obvious, we subtly included a nod to the story in the background for those dedicated fans who appreciate that tale deeply. The phrase “Just Keep Swimming” holds significant meaning for many people and personally resonates with me as well. It’s a powerful piece of life advice, yet it wasn’t feasible to incorporate it directly into the movie. Instead, I wanted to sprinkle references to it throughout wherever possible.

In the story, the animated movie serves as a source of encouragement for Lily and Atlas, as they both faced challenging upbringings and often encourage one another with Dory’s words, “just keep swimming.” The director and voice actor shared that this was intentional, aimed at acknowledging their struggles, and it’s a subtle detail that dedicated readers might pick up on and value. As a reader of the book myself, I certainly noticed and admired this touch.

In addition to the “Finding Nemo” poster, you’ll find a small Nemo stuffed toy in Lily’s room as well. This indicates that the affection for the Pixar production, despite it not being a central element of the storyline, remains strong.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “To be honest, some changes might have thrown off other authors, but not Colleen Hoover. She absolutely loved that clever Easter egg! During my interviews for CinemaBelnd, she shared her heartwarming reaction to the thoughtful nod to Finding Nemo in It Ends With Us. It was clear her eyes lit up as she spoke about it.”

In the restaurant, I found several subtle references to Atlas and Lily’s early days together, such as the Finding Dory poster in the restroom scene. These unexpected reminders of their past were delightful surprises for me. Many elements from the book didn’t make it into the movie, but these tiny nods to what was left out held significant meaning for me. Exploring the restaurant and discovering all those hidden gems was a joyous experience.

In my enthusiastic review of “It Ends With Us”, I expressed how this movie beautifully captures the essence of the book. Although some alterations have been made, the heart of the story remains unchanged. There are numerous subtle nods and clues that link it back to its original form, such as this delightful reference to “Finding Nemo”.

As a keen gamer, I’d say: “Head over to the cinemas right now to uncover the hidden treasures in ‘It Ends With Us’ for myself!”

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2024-08-17 16:37