It Ends with Us gets lukewarm reaction: Blake Lively’s romantic drama branded ‘sincere but completely ludicrous’ by critics
As a voracious reader who has traversed countless pages of novels and stories, I must say that I am both intrigued and captivated by the narrative unfolding around the book “It Ends With Us” and its author, Blake Lively. The storyline, based on her personal experiences with her parents’ relationship, resonates deeply with me as a writer who often finds inspiration from life events.
Blake Lively’s new romantic drama, It Ends with Us, has received mixed reviews from critics.
The movie stars the Gossip Girl alum, 36, as a floral designer named Lily Bloom, who falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle (Justin Baldoni, who also directs the film), years after losing touch with her first love Atlas (Brandon Sklenar) after he joined the military.
However, upon witnessing Ryle’s aggressive behavior that made her apprehensive about potential abuse, she sought assistance from Atlas once they rekindled their connection following an encounter at the restaurant where he was employed.
As a devoted reader and avid fan of romance novels, I am beyond excited about the upcoming release of “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book of the same name. Ever since it was published in 2016, I have been captivated by its heart-wrenching tale of love and heartbreak, and I can’t wait to see how the film adaptation brings it to life on the big screen. As someone who has experienced my fair share of romantic ups and downs, I find solace in stories like this that remind me of the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. I have no doubt that this movie will leave audiences feeling inspired and emotionally moved, just as the book did for me.
Despite earning a 61% score on Rotten Tomatoes and being described as “sincere but completely ludicrous” by The Independent, the film is not universally praised.
In a review by Mark Kennedy for the Associated Press, he notes that the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ skillfully blends the harsh truths of domestic violence with the lightheartedness of a romantic comedy and an uplifting feminist film. However, this delicate balancing act comes at a cost to all involved.
In a review by Lovia Gyarkye for The Hollywood Reporter, it is noted that Christy Hall’s screenplay, as the film’s director, incorporates some humorous references to the novel’s stereotypes at the start. However, despite these attempts, the adaptation ultimately falls short due to the inherent implausibility embedded within the source material itself.
According to Tim Robey from the Daily Telegraph, it isn’t Lively’s fault that her character is poorly developed, but her acting seems empty, and Baldoni’s performance comes across as too dominating.
Rolling Stone calls it the ‘Starbucks Latte of movies’ that’s ‘generic enough to hit the spot.’
Nevertheless, Blake was highly commended for her acting skills as well. In particular, Owen Gleiberman from Variety noted that she exuded a captivating, subtly anxious yet radiant presence on screen.
Simultaneously, Emily Zemler of the Observer notes that the film might become excessively emotional and dramatic, even resembling a Lifetime production. However, Rachel Bilson (Lively) and her director/co-star Justin Baldoni strive to keep the movie from being overwhelmed by the story’s melodramatic aspects.
Benjamin Lee from The Guardian pens that while the plot follows typical soap opera tropes, it exhibits a surprising depth as it tackles abuse in an unconventional way. The narrative is complex and may challenge some viewers’ comfort levels due to its intricate details. Despite the presence of familiar cliches, there are also instances where they are skillfully avoided, making the story not strictly adhere to the usual formula.
In the words of Amy Nicholson from The Washington Post, ‘It Ends With Us’ offers an appealing love triangle, filled with witty banter, flirtatious interactions, emotional turbulence, and lavish attire. However, the movie has to make some adjustments to fully capture the intricacy found in Hoover’s novel.
In a poignantly personal manner, Hoover, who was once a victim of domestic abuse, narrates Lily’s arduous journey towards breaking free from her past. Baldoni effectively transfers some of the emotional tumult to the viewers, with directors Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan strategically editing crucial scenes in such a way that, just like Lily, we are left uncertain about what is true.
Nicolson commented further by saying that Lively portrayed an outstanding role as a determined, rational woman, who finds it hard to see herself as a victim, even when bouncing off male leads who are more like two-dimensional pinball machines instead of well-rounded characters.
The trailer for the film as released in May.
In a friendly gesture, Blake’s close companion, Taylor Swift, contributes her vocals to the trailer. Her 2020 hit single, “My Tears Ricochet,” is the music featured in the promotional clip.
The story opens as Lily encounters Ryle for the first time at her freshly-opened florist’s, leading them to develop a connection and eventually start a romantic journey together.
The duo go on a date and it doesn’t take long for things to get steamy.
‘I want to see you again,’ Ryle tells Lily. ‘Now you see me,’ she jokes.
‘You know what I mean,’ he replies. But then a darker side of Ryle emerges.
During a tense conversation, Ryle is shown standing up and smashing an object into the floor.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he tenderly tells her afterwards.
Later on, Atlas reappears. In a rush, Lily hurries towards him, and memories of their childhood together start floating across the screen in quick succession.
Atlas recalls vividly the day when he spotted you through a window, he ponders. To which Lily responds, “Ah, yes, we weren’t much older than children back then.”
Noticing the man she is holding hands with, Atlas asks, ‘Is that your guy?’
‘Yeah. That’s Ryle,’ she replies.
Ryle seems suspicious of Lily as he asks her at one point, ‘Do you love him?’
‘I love you,’ she assures him.
‘That wasn’t my question,’ Ryle replies.
Lily poses a powerful question to Ryle: ‘If one day you had a daughter, what would you say to her?
‘She came to you and said the person she loved was hurting her? What would you say to her?’
Reflecting on this decision, I ponder, ‘Although challenging, let’s shatter the routine. Otherwise, the routine might ultimately shape us.’
It Ends With Us is set for release on August 9.
Previously, Hoover disclosed that writing “It Ends With Us” was the most challenging work she has undertaken, as it was inspired by her own parents’ relationship.
Globally, by 2019, the book had exceeded a million copies in sales and been translated into more than twenty distinct languages.
The book received another surge in popularity in late 2021 thanks to TikTok’s #BookTok community.
Starting from 2019, the book titled “It Ends With Us” has been made available in 43 different languages. In 2022, this book topped the print best-seller list and held its position on the New York Times Best Seller List for more than three-quarters of a year, a total of over 90 weeks.
Colleen Hoover holds the title of top-selling American author, having sold more than 20 million copies of her books. Her new book, titled “It Starts With Us,” which is a sequel to “It Ends With Us,” was released in October 2022.
Blake and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, are preparing for a box office showdown this coming weekend as they each release their movies. Their films, Deadpool and an unspecified project, have previously achieved impressive earnings, with Deadpool becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever after earning $97 million over the weekend.
In its third week of being on screen, Deadpool and Wolverine are expected to earn approximately $50 million, according to Deadline’s report, as they continue their fiery box office success.
As a lifelong Marvel fan, I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster, featuring Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen, had surpassed the $400 million mark domestically. Having grown up watching these iconic characters come to life on screen, it’s always a special moment when one of these films reaches such a significant milestone. This movie, in particular, has been a standout for me, with its unique blend of action, humor, and heart.
According to Deadline, the novel “It Ends with Us” is predicted to have a powerful start, with pre-sale figures indicating potential earnings of around $23 million, as per the National Research Group’s estimates.
Ryan Reynold’s films with the highest initial box office earnings in his past include:
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2024-08-08 03:07