Blake Lively outshines Boston in the hotly anticipated adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s romantic drama
By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News
The idea behind “It Ends With Us” is more compelling than the movie itself. Blake Lively stars as Lily Bloom, a no-nonsense woman on the brink of fulfilling her lifelong dream of opening a flower shop in Boston. Soon, she’ll even have a new boyfriend, a dashing neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid, who seems like the perfect guy—until he isn’t.
The film, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s mega-bestseller, leans heavily into the melodramatic, with a touch too much of the Lifetime movie vibe and an obnoxiously bloated runtime. Yet, Lively works her strawberry-blonde locks off to sell it so effectively that you’re drawn in whether you want to be or not. She’s radiant, and her character’s love for tiny tanks, sparkly shoes, and Carhartt gear is the hook, line, and sinker.
Lily and Ryle (played by Justin Baldoni, who also directed) share a rooftop meet-cute. Lily sits in solitude on the edge overlooking the city, thinking about her abusive father’s (Kevin McKidd) death and questioning why her mother (Amy Morton) never left. In her moment of contemplation, Ryle bursts onto the roof, startling Lily by throwing a chair in a fit of rage. We know it’s a red flag, yet sparks fly, and flirty banter follows.
The script oscillates between the present day and back to Lily’s teenage years, with Isabela Ferrer portraying young Lily, and explores her first love with Atlas (played by Alex Neustaedter). The superhero-themed name is a bit on the nose, setting him up to be her rescuer. Fast-forward a decade, and Brandon Sklenar steps into the role as the adult Atlas, a ruggedly handsome ex-Marine who’s become one of the hottest new chefs in the city. As often happens in such films, Lily serendipitously steps into his Back Bay restaurant, reigniting old sparks.
This rekindling is enough to rile up Ryle. The movie’s jarring tonal shift from flirty, floral fun to a quick, pass-the-cover-up-for-my-black-eye seriousness is enough to give you whiplash. Once we enter the more intense second half, the film struggles to hold up its end. It never feels quite sad or suspenseful enough to meet the demands of its heavy subject matter. Characters and their actions are predictable and underdeveloped, with dialogue so cringe-inducing that you might want to crawl under your seat. “Love isn’t for me; lust is nice, though,” is one of the lines that might make you laugh more than you should. But really, who can blame Lily for being swayed by a set of chiseled abs? Early on, she plays a cat-and-mouse game with Ryle for as long as possible, but a six-pack and day-old stubble always seem to win.
Christy Hall, who wrote and directed the terrific “Daddio” earlier this year, had the unenviable task of co-writing this script with Hoover. It’s a challenging story to translate from page to screen, requiring a balance of sensuality and romance to draw empathy for Ryle without sugarcoating the violence. It has to feel like a real love triangle. Yet, the movie often fails in this regard. We know Ryle is bad news from the get-go. Even the marketing refers to him as “complex” rather than the more accurate “abuser.” The entire film is bathed in a gauzy, fantasy-world glow, including its portrayal of Boston. Drone shots of the city highlight the usual sights—the Zakim Bridge, the Charles River, and the Citgo sign. However, most of the action was filmed in Hoboken, New Jersey, so there’s little Boston flavor to spice up the story, aside from an alleged Bruins bar where patrons drink free beer if they wear an adult onesie.
Born and raised in Milton, local actress Jenny Slate adds energy to the film as Lily’s wacky sidekick and Ryle’s sister, Allysa. She’s the best friend we all need, offering some authenticity and a couple of hard truths in an otherwise glossed-over setting. Her fun-loving marriage to Marshall (Hasan Minhaj) provides the movie its blueprint for a healthy relationship.
The good news about “It Ends With Us” is that it has a good shot to knock Lively’s husband’s movie (“Deadpool & Wolverine”) off its number-one spot at the box office this weekend. The better news is that, despite its flaws, the film may show thousands of young women that there is a way out of a volatile relationship. And perhaps the best news for fans is that Lily’s story isn’t over—there’s a second book, “It Starts With Us,” though there’s no word yet on a film adaptation.
‘It Ends With Us’
Screened August 6 at AMC Boston Common
Rating: PG-13 for depictions of domestic violence, sexual content, and some strong language.
Cast: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Hasan Minhaj
Director: Justin Baldoni
Writers: Christy Hall, Colleen Hoover
Runtime: 130 minutes
Where to watch: In theaters Aug. 8
Grade: C
Boston Movie News 