Film Review: It Ends with Us [2024] – Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni

It Ends with Us proves that Sony can’t even make a good movie, based on a best-selling book, about domestic violence hidden behind a romantic movie pitch.

I’m all for getting behind a melodramatic story that is clearly appealing to audiences who are not always well-served by theatrical releases, but being glossy and soapy can only get a movie so far. The movie clearly has lofty goals it ultimately cannot meet, and the end result is a mellow film that is borderline insulting in its depiction of the very subject it seeks to explore.

Other than one or two brief moments of intensity, none of which are brave enough to do anything but hint at what’s really going on, the movie is basically a soapy romance with no direction. Is he going to betray her? Is she going to cheat on him? I had lots of questions, but no answers until the “barely there” scenes that you’ll skip them if you blink.

Don’t get me wrong. Blake Lively is a good actress. And I definitely have a crush on Justin Baldoni. It Ends With Us is well-made, but ultimately over-stuffed. There is a good film buried somewhere inside this Lifetime movie facade, making it even more frustrating to have to sit through.

We, the viewers, deserve better.

Should You Watch It?

The main issue is that the movie is too afraid to fall under any label. As a result, it ended up too generic. Is it a romance? Not quite. Is it a drama? Probably. Is it a comedy? Sometimes. And that’s never a great thing.

Where Can I Watch It?

It Ends With Us is now playing in theaters.