Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us has been one of the most eagerly awaited movies, especially for young women. The 2016 book turned into an internet hit, with over a billion #booktok tags on TikTok and 20 million copies sold as a New York Times bestseller. Though the film might seem like a typical romantic comedy, it carries a darker, unexpected twist.
The movie stars Blake Lively, known as Gossip Girl, and follows the story of Lily Bloom, a young woman who grew up seeing domestic abuse and later finds herself in a similar situation.
Lily, a florist in Boston, is caught in a love triangle between her charming but abusive boyfriend, Ryle Kincaid, played by Jane the Virgin actor Justin Baldoni, and her caring first love, Atlas Corrigan, portrayed by Brandon Sklenar.
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At the premiere, Blake Lively told the BBC that she felt a strong responsibility to honor the fans who love the original story.
“I believe we’ve created a story that’s not only emotional and fun but also funny, painful, scary, tragic, and inspiring. That’s what life is—it’s every color,” said the 36-year-old actress, who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds.
However, the film has faced criticism for romanticizing domestic abuse. A two-star review from The Telegraph described it as a “queasy drama” that turns domestic violence into a polished romance. Reviewer Tim Robey also mentioned that the film mixes scenes of abuse with glamorous city dating, which creates a troubling effect.
Colleen Hoover has shared that she wrote the novel based on the domestic abuse her mother experienced. In 2022, Hoover released a sequel called It Starts With Us. Rebecca Goshawk, from Solace, a charity that helps victims of gender-based violence, expressed concern about how the film might portray domestic abuse.
“Movies can be a powerful way for young people to learn about domestic abuse and understand what healthy relationships look like,” she explains.
“But if it’s not done well, it can be concerning because it might make unhealthy relationships seem romantic, and young people might not recognize what’s actually dangerous.”
Blake Lively, who also served as a producer, told the BBC that she is confident the film was made with care and “a lot of empathy.”
“Lily is both a survivor and a victim, but those labels don’t define her. She defines herself, and that’s incredibly empowering because it shows that no one else can decide who you are.”
Fans at the premiere also shared that they don’t believe the book or film romanticizes unhealthy relationships.
Taylor Lopez, 19, thinks the movie does a great job of showing the story from the viewpoint of a victim who struggles with the tough choice of loving someone but needing to leave them. Her friends, Phoebe and Celina, agree, saying the film “fits together perfectly” and that “the characters’ feelings and experiences are really relatable.”
They also believe that Blake Lively, known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, is the perfect choice for the role.
“In the book, Lily is 23, so some people have questioned the casting, but I think Blake is actually the ideal choice,” Celina explains.
It Ends With Us is in theaters today, Aug. 9.
Source: BBC