What works wonderfully, however, is the humor in this romantic drama. Although Allysa (Jenny Slate) appears minimally in the film, she leaves a lasting impression with her hilarious quips and her relationship with her husband (Hasan Minhaj). We see Lily and Allysa share some strong moments of female friendship. Allysa sarcastically says, “If you don’t expect anything from him, he’s a great option,” when she finds out Lily has decided to date her brother Ryle. But we also see her being emotionally sensitive to Lily and putting her mental health first, as she says, “As a sister, I would be more than happy if you found a way to forgive him. But as a best friend, I will be so angry if you take him back.” But some lines fall flat as the characters are not that well developed and the narrative falls prey to stereotypes. One such line is when the adult Atlas says, “If you find someone in your heart to love back, fall in love with me,” and you automatically expect this to be the climax of the film.
It ends with us is promising and an important film as it sends a message about the ongoing domestic violence from generation to generation due to pure conditioning. It gives us an understanding of why women often normalize toxic behavior in men and why others in their lives should help them understand the issue rather than judge them for their choices. If only the film gave more importance to the violence and the trauma it leaves behind, perhaps by showing the real consequences when a victim leaves their abusive partner, it might be more comprehensive and impactful. Nonetheless, the film works because we get to experience an always charming Justin Baldoni who makes us swoon with lines like, “When you stub my toe, I get so angry I blame myself for the wall being there.”
