By Amber Roberts and Madison Sylvester
The release of the new drama “It Ends with Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, has stirred controversy within the film industry. The movie, which addresses domestic violence and toxic relationships, received much support for the book but has sparked mixed reactions for the film.
After both having read the novel recently, we – MainSheet reporters Amber Roberts and Madison Sylvester – decided to watch the film to better understand the backlash. Below we discussed our reactions.
Differences:
Amber: I pictured some characters differently when I read the book. What about you?
Madison: I agree. I envisioned Lily, the main character, as younger in the book – she’s 23 in the novel but 29 in the film. The actress playing her was 37 in real life. I also thought the actor for young Atlas, her teenage boyfriend, looked too old for an 18-year-old.
Plot
Madison: There were noticeable changes in the plot. Some significant events from the book were missing from the film. Did you notice that?
Amber: Yes! I missed the conversation Lily has with her mom about the abuse, which was a crucial part of the book, especially since her mom was also a victim. I did appreciate how the film portrayed the abuse through Lily’s perspective, showing it first as an accident and then clearly as intentional violence by Ryle, her husband.
Preference: Book vs. Movie
Amber: I preferred the book’s pacing, which allowed me to imagine the characters more deeply and understand the story better. The movie wasn’t bad, but I would choose the book.
Madison: I agree. The book made me feel like I was living Lily’s life, whereas the movie felt more like just observing her story unfold.
Controversy
Amber: I don’t think the film deviated too much from the book. However, there’s been debate about Blake Lively’s handling of her role in interviews. This is significant for a movie addressing domestic abuse, and the focus should align with the film’s serious message.
Madison: Absolutely. Blake Lively, as someone portraying a domestic abuse victim, should focus on the violence depicted in the film instead of speaking on her hair care company. The director, Justin Baldoni, who also played Ryle, emphasized the importance of conveying the film’s message.