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After years of explosive success on social media and in bookstores, and over 20 books to her name, author Colleen Hoover is finally bringing one of her works to the big screen. Her most famous novel,It Ends With Us, released back in 2016, has become the foundation for a movie of the same name. The movie stars none other than Hollywood icon Blake Lively as the main character,joined by Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar. Apart from acting in one of the lead roles, Baldoni, who is known for his role in the telenovelaJane the Virginand his work on the drama movieFive Feet Apart, is also the director ofIt Ends With Us.
Even during the time of production, the movie adaptation faced some massive backlash regarding the novel’s controversial depiction of important topics such as domestic violence. The initial release date of the movie was pushed back a few months to August 9, since a wave of criticism traveled through various social media platforms. Baldoni revealed that, despite possibly facing even more backlash, he made a massive change to the characters, which could potentially redeem the controversial novel. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the bold move Baldoni made to turn this story around.
It Ends With Us
What Is It Ends With Us About?
TheIt Ends With Usnovel tells the story of 23-year-old Lily, a dedicated business ownerplayed by Blake Lively, who hasn’t always had it easy and has come a long way. Her life seems to be going just fine, as she worked hard for her success and overcame obstacles along the way, but when she unexpectedly meets a good-looking neurosurgeon, everything changes. 30-year-old Ryle Kincaid is as charming as they come, and Lily immediately falls in love with him.
However, when her former boyfriend, Atlas Corrigan, appears out of nowhere, chaos is inevitable. Overcome by jealousy, Ryle reveals his abusive side, but Lily is set on staying with him. As a consequence,the three of them are caught in a toxic relationship triangle, and a whirlwind of emotions makes the entire situation increasingly complicated.
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The Controversial Novel Behind the Movie
Despite being regarded as the queen of TikTok’s sub-community, Booktok, Colleen Hoover’s novels, particularlyIt Ends With Us,have stirred up some heated conversations surrounding controversies in their stories. Even though many fans came to the defense of her writing by saying that they appreciate her genuine, unfiltered approach, the problematic aspects of Lily’s story are hard to deny.
Throughout the novel,it comes across as though Hoover romanticizes abuse and toxic relationshipssince she fails to let her character stand up for herself. When Lily first experiences abuse through her partner’s hand, she simply ends up acknowledging that he has a rough side, but still stays by his side. In general, the events triggered by the appearance of her ex-boyfriend should have already been a wake-up call, but there was no sight of realization. There are numerous reasonswhyIt Ends With Usis controversial, butthe main issue lies in romanticizing domestic violence without actually encouraging the main character and the readers to step up for themselvesand get as far away from their abusers as possible.
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Justin Baldoni’s Attempt at Redemption
Baldoni made the drastic decision to age up thecharacters inIt Ends With Us, and it apparently was very well thought through. He very quickly realized that he didn’t want to make a movie that had a 23-year-old at the center of the story, because, first and foremost, it is the director’s intention to appeal to women of all agesand avoid the exaggerated depiction of a toxic relationship. He wants every woman to feel included, seen, and heard, allowing them to connect with the character on a deeper level and maybe even relate to her. His decision to age the characters a whole decade opens the doors to a much wider audience, and possibly results in Lily’s story becoming a universal one.
In addition,Baldoni’s decision takes the story out of the Young Adult genre, which, as a consequence, partially breaks up with a potential glorification of Lily and Ryle’s relationship. Admiring a couple and worshiping them, regardless of their troublesome bond, often happens in the YA genre, as the target audience is still much younger.By taking a step away from the genre, Baldoni allows the story to unfold in a more mature and less controversial way, as the main character has much more experience and self-growth in her pockets.
Baldoni, despite facing initial backlash for his choice, seemingly listened to the uproar when Hoover’s book was released. Even though fans usually don’t appreciate changes surrounding the main characters of a book, this one might have saved the movie from a massive downfall. Make sure to check out the trailer below, and eventually form your own opinion, asIt Ends With Usis available in theaters August 9.
