Blake Lively as Lily Bloom and Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid in a scene from 'It Ends with Us'.
Image: Supplied
A movie that has been grabbing headlines in recent months is “It Ends with Us”. If you didn’t catch it on the big screen last year, it is now showing on Netflix.
Based on the 2016 romance novel of the same title by Colleen Hoover, the film stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also wears the director’s hat.
Sadly, this movie got more attention for the post-release drama between Lively and Baldoni, with the two expected to face off in court on March 9, 2026. But more on that in a bit.
Let’s first talk about the movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
It opens with Lily Bloom (Lively) visiting her hometown in Maine for her father Andrew’s funeral. Her mother nags her about her speech but when it came to delivering the eulogy, she walked off..
It was evident that her emotions went beyond losing a parent. It was underpinned by anger and resentment.
Back in Boston, she manages to sneak onto the rooftop of an apartment building that she doesn’t live in. That’s where she meets Ryle Kincaid, a dashing neurosurgeon with commitment issues.
Sparks fly, and in a serendipitous twist, they meet again when Allysa (Jenny Slate), Ryle’s sister, starts working at Lily’s flower shop.
While Lily initially brushes off his flirtatious behaviour, the two give in to their feelings at Allysa’s birthday party.
As the relationship gets serious, Ryle, who starts showing some red flags, meets Lily’s mother. Interestingly, at the meet, Lily bumps into her high school sweetheart, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), who happens to be the owner of Root, the new trendy restaurant in town.
Blake Lively as Lily Bloom with Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan in a scene from 'It Ends with Us'.
Image: Supplied
In a separate visit, Ryle gets wind of this and he and Atlas come to blows over a bruise on Lily’s face.
But Lily dismisses the injury as an accident, and the couple end up tying the knot. Everything seems picture perfect until Ryle’s jealousy escalates, which becomes a trigger for Lily as she has deep-seated childhood wounds from witnessing her father do the same to her mother.
When Lily learns that she’s pregnant, she has to make a tough decision between staying with the man she loves and breaking the cycle for her unborn child.
While the real-life rift between Lively and Baldoni has left the Hollywood fraternity divided, the chemistry between the actors is unmistakable.
From the onset, the audience is drawn to their love story, empathising with the characters, who have their own emotional baggage from childhood.
I was truly captivated by the movie, particularly due to its exploration of gender-based violence, a deeply relevant and critical issue in South Africa.
From a cinematic perspective, it was beautifully shot with stunning backdrops of the city. Baldoni handled the sensitive subject matter with commendable dexterity.
While he has a stronger presence in the first half of the movie, Lively commands the second half.
She imbues her character with a lively (pun unintended) spirit, masterfully handling the more weighty emotions of anxiety as well. Her bond with Slate plays out so authentically that you would swear they are besties off-screen.
Sklenar's portrayal was also praiseworthy, as he imbued his character with sincere compassion and steadfast love.
“It Ends with Us” is a moving and impactful exploration of a serious issue - don’t be surprised if you are left moist-eyed while watching it.
The lowdown on the Lively vs Baldoni legal battle…