The smell of popcorn fills the theater as you sit down to watch the newest chick flick that is all the rave. As your popcorn bucket is lowering, your emotions are rising. The credits roll but you remain in your seat, reflecting over what the past two hours of film have meant to you. This past weekend, I viewed the beautiful yet destructive love story created by Author, Colleen Hoover, which captivated my attention and left me wanting more.
Based on the novel written by Colleen Hoover, the screen-adapted movie went down in the books as one of my favorite movies. Screenplay writer, Christy Hall, was tasked with bringing the beloved book to life. A review by Brooks Eisenbise stated, “Hall breathes a life into the dialogue of these characters that Hoover’s stiff and heavy-handed prose often lacks.” Hoover set the scene by introducing the kindhearted main character Lily Bloom, a twenty-three-year-old woman striving to create a different life for herself living in Boston while mourning the loss of her beloved, yet abusive, father. We learn about her mysterious and romantic past as the film unfolds in a series of flashbacks that create a sense of mystery and realization as the film progresses. Soon, we met the lead love interest, Ryle Kincaid. A charming yet mischievous man who catches Lily’s distraught attention. After an encounter that seemed to be the end of their love story was only just the beginning.
While Lily is becoming the woman she has always aspired to be, Ryle is trying to win her love. He succeeds. After months of dating, the audience is introduced to a character that is new to us but nostalgic to Lily. It is her first love who is now back in her life for the first time in what feels like ages. She had moved on, but their connection never left. Lily is now faced with an internal conflict that resonates with many women. As Ryle and Lily’s relationship deepens, so is Lily’s fear of becoming the one thing she promised not to be. She has to learn how to not only lean on herself but others who have been there since she first realized what love truly was.
Was love simply just the word “wife” and the commitment of death do us part? Or is it the vulnerable memories you make with someone? It Ends With Us truly made me question my views. Every scene left you on the edge of your seat. Hoover’s ability to reach several audiences with this film is truly inspiring. The idea of love was expressed in so many different ways. Whether you are a hopeless romantic or just hopeless, you can find a part of this movie that resonates with you. Some even highly admire Lily for her ability to choose what is best for her.
The constant contrast between Lily’s past and present relationships was simply beautiful. With each one, it untangled and informed you about Lily’s past, and left the audience with the same sense of eternal conflict as her’s. Yes, the book and movie are categorized as an attempt to raise awareness for domestic violence, but that only adds to the manifold of themes that were developed throughout the film. Although many who have read the novel and watched the film as well have very different opinions on how the movie was constructed. I feel they are missing the underlying meaning, which is to make the audience question what love truly is and what it looks like. Brooks Eisenbise states, “If Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us could be summarized in one word, it would be “polarizing.” Colleen Hoover may have created one of the most polarizing films with short-term discord, but I believe it is one that I will look to for an infinite amount of answers and impact me for eternity.
