The film rests on the shoulders of Blake Lively and she succeeds by giving a remarkably warm and charming performance, expertly anchoring this uneven film and making it genuinely compelling. As Bloom, she delivers the complex consequences of her abusive father’s death with a subtle emotional depth that brings authenticity to her character’s journey. The vivid portrayal of a woman torn between grief and personal growth is both heartfelt and captivating, breathing life into the soap opera-like elements of the story. We can expect to see more of her journey after the end of her abusive marriage. Since the author has written a sequel, It Starts With Us, there is some hope.
His chemistry with the other lead actors – Justin Baldoni as commitment-shy neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid and Brandon Sklenar as his childhood boyfriend Atlas – is both distinct and effective. Lively’s interactions with him add layers to her character, making her struggles and triumphs resonate more deeply. Her performance, along with a sweet young version of her character (Isabella Ferrer) and the charming presence of Jenny Slate as her best friend Elisa, enrich the emotional landscape of the film. Isabella Ferrer looks exactly like Lively. It seems like the makers have gone back in time and somehow come back with a younger version of her. Alex Neustadter also makes his mark as a younger version of Brandon Sklenar.
At times the film proves to be too formulaic. The second time Bloom and Atlas meet as adults at her restaurant, he intuitively senses that something is wrong with her marriage and asks her to end the relationship. The fact that Bloom has witnessed her mother being abused and yet continues to forgive her husband is something she is unable to swallow. Why doesn’t she confront him? Why doesn’t she communicate from the first time? She is married to her best friend’s brother and yet Alyssa is not shown confronting him after she finds out about her brother’s abusive ways. Despite promising her support to be a wonderful aunt to Bloom’s child, Alyssa is absent when Bloom is giving birth.
Watch It End’s With Us for a portrayal of beautiful people battling inner demons. Despite the film’s reliance on familiar tropes and sometimes simplistic dialogue, Lively’s spontaneous and heartfelt portrayal ensures that the themes of self-acceptance and love are presented with genuine grace.