‘It Ends With Us’: What the Critics Are Saying

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‘It Ends With Us’: What the Critics Are Saying

As a longtime survivor and advocate for those affected by domestic violence, I must admit that my anticipation for “It Ends With Us” was tinged with both hope and trepidation. Having witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of abusive relationships on countless lives, I was eager to see a film that could shed light on this critical issue while also offering a glimmer of hope for those trapped in such situations.

After the initial screening of “It Ends With Us” in New York on Tuesday night, critics’ early responses to the movie have been a mix of positive and negative reviews.

The romantic drama, titled as Colleen Hoover’s 2016 top-selling novel, is directed by Justin Baldoni who also portrays Ryle. This movie chronicles the life of Lily, played by Blake Lively, as she bravely leaves behind her troubled past to start anew. However, her romance with neurosurgeon Ryle resurfaces memories of her abusive parents’ relationship. Matters become more complicated when Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), someone from her past, reappears in her life. Ultimately, Lily finds the courage to depend on herself and advance, overcoming these obstacles.

Previously, the movie has drawn flak for its portrayal of domestic violence, being accused by some viewers of glamorizing the issue. Yet, many initial criticisms point out that although the film handles the subject of domestic violence sensitively, it seems to compromise on its storyline.

By the late afternoon on Wednesday, “It Ends With Us” was rated 59% based on 39 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and it received a 51% score from 20 reviews on Metacritic.

On Friday, the movie produced by Sony Pictures will be released in cinemas. The cast includes Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Isabela Ferrer, and Alex Neustaedter as well.

Here are some intriguing snippets from early reviews of the highly anticipated release of “It Ends With Us“. As a passionate reader, I simply couldn’t resist diving in to see what all the fuss was about:

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in “It Ends With Us” movie, but unfortunately, the portrayal of the characters felt quite surface-level. This shallow treatment seemed to undermine the deeper themes that the story is trying to convey. I yearned for a broader perspective on Lily’s community and a more profound exploration of her relationship with Ryle, as these elements could have given the film the depth needed to carry its weighty themes effectively.

Benjamin Lee from The Guardian stated, “Although the plot is filled with overused soap opera clichés, it exhibits a surprising level of maturity in its execution. This is an exploration of abuse that’s less straightforward than we’re used to, and the complexities are intricate and uncomfortable for some. There are predictable tropes, but there are also many instances where they are skillfully avoided. The narrative doesn’t always follow typical patterns.”

“In his review, Lee expressed that the life lessons presented about self-acceptance, self-love, and self-worth might come off as clichéd at times, yet he felt the film’s deeper aspects could have been explored with a touch more intensity. However, what stands out most is how It Ends with Us prioritizes emotion above all else, and it does so powerfully, even if it can be quite overt in its expression. The movie carries a strong, sweeping wave of emotion throughout.”

In a review for The Washington Post, Amy Nicholson notes that “It Ends With Us” resembles a polished love triangle with its witty exchanges, flirtatious moments, and tumultuous dynamics. However, the film must make some adjustments to capture the intricacy found in Hoover’s book. As a survivor of domestic abuse, Hoover portrays Lily’s battle for freedom from her past with raw emotion. Director Baldoni transfers some of that internal conflict onto the audience, skillfully editing crucial scenes in such a way that, just like Lily, we are left uncertain about what is true.

Nicolson commented that “even when colliding with male counterparts who are more like pinball machines lacking depth instead of fully-fledged characters,” Lively delivered a “remarkable portrayal of a determined, rational woman grappling with the idea of being a victim.”

In his review for the Associated Press, critic Mark Kennedy stated that the film adaption of Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel struggled to harmonize the harsh realities of domestic violence with a romantic comedy and a feminist-themed movie, ultimately resulting in each aspect falling short.

Kennedy commented, “It leans too heavily towards melodrama, covering topics like suicide, homelessness, intergenerational trauma, child murder, unplanned pregnancy, and enduring love, but without fully exploring or resolving them. What’s more, it fails to draw from the unique flavor of Boston as its setting.”

Stephanie Zacharek, a film critic who specializes in time magazine, noted that the film is convincing in portraying the unpredictable nature of abuse for many women. However, despite its realistic depiction, it doesn’t entirely persuade the audience to fully believe in what the movie is trying to convey.

“Perhaps the issue is that the film, It Ends With Us, solely focuses on its central theme and doesn’t delve deeper. The characters serve to illustrate the hidden dangers of domestic violence and how victims can unknowingly hide their suffering behind denial. While it’s a heavy topic for a movie, films should be more than just emotional transmitters; they need to affect us subtly. It Ends With Us successfully communicates its messages, but in a way that educates rather than emotionally engages.”

Proma Khosla penned an article for IndieWire stating that the movie effectively tackles its complex themes, but this often results in a less detailed storyline.

“In her review, Khosla stated that ‘It Ends with Us’ effectively portrays its intended themes – abuse, trauma, and silence – much like Hoover’s successful book. The authors, Baldoni and Hall, approach Lily and the other characters with genuine compassion, avoiding graphic or overly simplistic depictions to maintain a comfortable viewing experience. However, they leave room for further exploration in a potential sequel.”

In her critique for Rolling Stone, Esther Zuckerman noted that “It Ends With Us” is both bubbly and melodramatic, equally focused on romance and trauma. Over its extended two-hour span, the film remains remarkably faithful to its roots as a light novel. This faithfulness creates a unique blend of tones that, while not always seamless, evokes an earlier era of cinema production, one where mid-budget films exploring complex themes were common (like “White Oleander” or “Where the Heart Is”). In this sense, the movie succeeds, though some viewers sensitive to overly sentimental storylines might find themselves cringing at the film’s emotional ups and downs.

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2024-08-08 01:55