When Blake Lively’s Lily Bloom first meets Justin Baldoni’s Ryle Kincaid in It ends with usthe first thought that came to mind was, “How convenient that they just happened to run into each other on a patio?” While even that could be ignored, it struck me as even more convenient a while later when Allysa (Jenny Slate) randomly asks about a job at Lily’s flower shop and it later turns out that Allysa is Ryle’s sister, giving the couple a chance to deepen their romance. From here on, the script only gets more convenient, like when Lily Bloom’s first flower shop is a huge success, becoming one of the top ten stores in Boston, or when she falls in love with and marries Ryle but somehow never tells him about her past trauma. While these conveniences detract from the story’s authenticity, the film ultimately redeems itself by tackling the serious subject of domestic violence. However, the narrative’s failure to fully explore the complexities of trauma and its aftermath leaves a lingering feeling of incompleteness.
The first half It ends with us focuses on the romance, which mostly overshadows the part of the story that deals with trauma. Despite the formulaic approach to romance and lust, Blake Lively’s strong screen presence and the tension she shares with a brilliant Justin Baldoni make up for it. Moreover, the film flows in a non-linear pattern as we keep getting glimpses of Lily’s teenage years with her ex-boyfriend Atlas. Isabela Ferrer, who plays young Lily, bears an uncanny resemblance to Blake Lively. She keeps us hooked on Lily’s past as we are curious to find out why she and young Atlas (Alex Neustaedter) didn’t date for long. These fleeting moments of romance, trust, and understanding between young Lily and Atlas are the most entertaining parts of the film.
Baldoni’s dual role as director and actor is commendable. His portrayal of Ryle’s transformation from a charming neurosurgeon to an unpredictable partner is nuanced. However, the late introduction of abuse and violence in the film limits the exploration of the trauma aspect. As mentioned earlier, Lily doesn’t confide in Ryle about her childhood trauma, which has pretty much become the foundation of her personality, nor does Ryle reveal his lifelong guilt to Lily. Given their deep love, the couple’s decision to keep such significant secrets seems unlikely. Although we see Lily make some brave decisions to “break up with them,” we don’t necessarily feel sympathy for the character as we aren’t made to empathize with her trauma and understand the repercussions.
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.”
Director: Justin Baldoni
Cast: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate
Rating: 2.5/5
