It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie Review

"We break the pattern before the pattern breaks us..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown November 15, 2024

Goodness. So much controversy for such a forgettable film. It Ends with Us is meant to cast a light on the trials and tribulations of surviving and escaping domestic abuse, but instead turned out to be such a behind-the-scenes mess that any message was all but lost in the noise of the production drama. It began with numerous events on set (among them star Blake Lively's insistence that husband Ryan Reynolds visit and direct several scenes) which ultimately led to an alleged "creative differences" feud between Lively and director/co-star Justin Baldoni. Later, Lively promised potential audience members the "giggliest, girliest of times" at the movies. Um. Okay. I guess? But it didn't stop there. The strangeness culminated with Lively fumbling interviews during her press tour for the film, flippantly promoting other endeavors -- a haircare product of all things -- while offering odd answers to serious questions rather than discussing the issue at the heart of her character's plight. All of which would be a real shame... if It Ends with Us was in any way a poignant or powerful exploration of abuse. Frankly, though, recent genre pics like The Invisible Man have been far more effective in such pursuits, making Baldoni's adaptation of Colleen Hoover's topical romance novel as misconceived as it is slight and ineffective. Will women cheer and swoon? Feel empowered to seize control of their lives? The Hallmark crowd certainly may. Those searching for more potent and thought-provoking films, though, will be sorely disappointed.

The first Colleen Hoover novel adapted for the big screen, It Ends with Us introduces Lily Bloom (Lively), a woman who escapes a traumatic childhood and embarks on a new life in Boston, chasing a lifelong dream of opening her own business. Her adulthood is fairly unremarkable until a chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) sparks a passionate connection. However, the further the two fall in love, the more Lily begins to discover sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. Arguments that "accidentally" get physical unsettle her even more, though she's unsure of how to measure her boyfriend-soon-husband's remorse. But everything changes when Lily’s teenage love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, inspiring her to realize she might just have to make the most difficult of choices. Written by Christy Hall and directed by Baldoni, the film also stars Jenny Slate as Lily's new best friend (and Ryle's sister) Allysa, Alex Neustaedter as young Atlas and Isabela Ferrer as young Lily, alongside actors Hasan Minhaj, Kevin McKidd, Amy Morton, Robert Clohessy, Robyn Lively and Emily Baldoni.

It Ends with Us has a powerful story to tell, despite being fairly lightweight and, more troublingly, presenting Lily as a woman in need of a sexy childhood flame to save her. I'll even admit to getting a bit choked up when the meaning of the title came into view in the final moments of the film, despite being uncharacteristically bored by the mundanity of one too many scenes and the sloooowww march towards the story's inevitable conclusion. Lively is an effective lead, with Slate and Sklenar adding heart and humor in equal measures. Baldoni is effective too, although only at being unlikeable. His performance is average at best, and his chunky, clunky line readings leave a lot to be desired. Still, his rage and outbursts are frightening enough to bolster Lively's strongest scenes, and the actress does her finest work when Lily's world is falling apart. Yes, the story remains contrived regardless. And yes, the script is stocky and wooden; a trait only cloaked by Lively and Sklenar's palpable chemistry. But... well, come to think of it, there's really no "but." It Ends with Us is a melodramatic slog built on a love triangle that seems at times out of place and, overall, manufactured to provide Lily a happy-ending "out" instead of a more ambiguous finale.

It Ends with Us is a proverbial have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too drama, eager to add thoughtful commentary to a discussion about domestic violence but too distracted by its romantic meanderings to offer many intelligent points or meaningful contributions. This is Escaping Abuse 101, which is fine, but the idea that such a trite film might inspire women in dangerous situations to make the riskiest of hard decisions for their betterment is optimistic to say the least. I hope it does. Don't get me wrong. But the glow-y, sugar-y Nicolas Sparks approach to dramatizing such painful, awful circumstances isn't exactly an accurate reflection of the majority of abuse cases. I doubt women who are trapped in horrible situations with abusive partners will see much of themselves in It Ends with Us or Lively's Lily, who never looks like anything less than a starlet in the making. Fancy hotels, spacious apartments and magazine-worthy houses don't help matters, nor do later developments like marriage and motherhood resemble the lives most women live. Is this escapist escapism then? Motivational melodrama? I have no idea. I wish the film the best and I hope it helps people. But I also wish Hollywood would pour its money into meatier projects; movies that reflect real lives and real circumstances, and offer real hope in the face of things as ugly as domestic abuse.

It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is a beauty, blessed with a gorgeous, warmly saturated palette, picture-perfect contrast leveling, and a striking level of detail. Colors tend to look a tad firelit, with sun-kissed skintones and bronzed primaries. But it's all in keeping with DP Barry Peterson's intentions. More harrowing scenes feature a starker, colder disposition, granting the image a duality that matches its shifting tone beat for beat. Delineation is excellent and black levels are absorbing, with rich contrast granting the presentation welcome depth and dimensionality. Detail is remarkable too, with clean, filmic edge definition and an assortment of revealing fine textures, particularly in the film's (many) closeups. Lively's tears, misplaced hairs and makeup-free face are realized precisely and exactly, only enhancing the actress's stirring performance. Moreover, there isn't any significant blocking, banding or digital noise to speak of, and the encode fares well throughout the film.

It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It Ends with Us is largely a chatty, front-heavy affair. But that doesn't mean Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track falters or fails in any way. Dialogue is intelligible at all times and prioritization is flawless. Voices are never overwhelmed or under-supported, and conversations exist within believable spaces bolstered by side and rear speaker acoustics and ambience. Pans are silky smooth and the soundfield is immersive as well, particularly when Lily and her friends venture out into the city, visit local dives or talk while browsing in a store. LFE output isn't entirely notable, but it does a good job with what it's handed. Bursts of violence make an impact, and music takes advantage of the track's low-end capabilities. It isn't a rousing mix or a top tier track, mind you, but you won't come away with any complaints. It Ends with Us couldn't sound much better than it does here.

It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Surprised, not surprised. The Blu-ray release of It Ends with Us doesn't include any extras whatsoever.

It Ends with Us Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I so wanted It Ends with Us to shed its Hallmark Channel trappings and stop pulling so many punches, but perhaps its dramatization of more common domestic abuse is more helpful to women than I realize. I don't feel equipped or eager to enter the conversation much more than that, and leave the real discussion to those who are directly affected by such issues. But I do wish they had a more competently made film to assist in inspiring women to leave abusive partners behind and boldly venture out into new lives and new futures. Fortunately, Sony's Blu-ray release features excellent video and audio quality. The only thing lacking is the supplemental package, which is so barebones it doesn't even include a trailer.