Mini Review: 5 Things I REALLY liked about "It Ends With Us" movie, and a few things I liked a little less.
📌 5 Things I liked...
1) Casting was fantastic. I remember seeing Justin Baldoni's cast search video when they were trying to find a young Blake Lively, and I scoffed at the time bc how is it possible to match up someone to her gorgeous face? But they actually did! She looks so much like her, that I almost thought it was AI over Blake's face, until I just looked it up.
2) Casting was fantastic, part 2 - I haven't read the book so I don't know if it's true to those, but I thought every single actor seemed made to play their role. The leads, the supporting actors, everyone.
3) I liked how stunning the movie was visually. You don't always get that in dramas but you did here. All the scenes and shots of the city were beautiful, especially the restaurant and every single view of the flower shop.
4) I loved how real the love felt between all the characters. I think Blake Lively embodied love in the movie as Lily. Lily's love for Axel and her love for Ryle and her love for her mom... all of it she expressed so well. Sometimes movies about DV try to make it seem like there's no real love there and that one fell into a relationship strictly out of trauma - even though that's not how it usually happens. As heavy as it was to watch the main relationship, Lily and Ryle gave us a lot of purity to their characters so we could fall in love with them as a couple first... and feel the instant, and ongoing pain when it disintegrated.
5) I don't know anyone offscreen who has gotten out of a DV situation alive without being on the run for awhile, or some severe aftermath. But it make more sense in the movie because of the sister and law, mom, Axel and just the mere fact she had a strong support system. I am sure some people think it's unrealistic, but I think it's also important to sometimes give out hope. Some people are able to leave if conditions are right and they have other support. I think people can really use hope when 8t comes to the topic so I was glad for its inclusion.
📌 3 Things I liked less...
1) I wanted more Hisan Manaj. I would've liked to see how his character, Marshall, reacted after learning the truth about his brother in law. In all his lines I wanted just a little more of him.
2) It pains me to say this one: as someone who knows every lyric to my tears ricochet, I hated it's usage in the movie. It didn't fit the scenes it was in, not a single moment. My friend who was with me though didn't know the song and thought the words she heard were about having grace, until I explained the song is very much not that. So yeah it just didn't fit and I wish another Taylor song was chosen. Maybe it wouldn't be distracting to non-swifties though :)
3) Lastly, (and this is not about the movie as much as some of the promotion around it), I don't think a lot of moviegoers knew what to expect. Lots of people (including kids) there seemed prepared for a RomCom. After the movie, sadly I picked up conversations from girls walking out who were most disappointed that Lily didn't give Ryle more chances! That was hard to hear.
All in all I'd highly recommend the movie. See it by yourself or with friends whom you're always comfortable with. It's heavy and triggering and thorough, but it's all tastefully done. Great direction, cast, and levity to an important topic.
