Like it or not, Colleen Hoover has taken the publishing world by storm , and it was only a matter of time before one of her sweeping romances got the big-screen treatment. It stands to reason that her most (in)famous book, It Ends with Us, would be first in line. The filmmakers behind the project, led by director Justin Baldoni, had a lot to prove: Depending on what corner of the internet you’re on, the tale of smooth-talking redhead and aspiring florist Lily Bloom (played in the movie by Blake Lively) is either a beautiful tear-jerker or a clunky, abuse-glorifying work of cringe.
But thanks to slick screenwriting, stylish art direction, and a sparkling lead performance from Lively, the film tackles difficult subject matter with maturity, tenderness, and just a dash of whimsy. In the pages of Hoover’s book, it’s hard to understand what makes Lily so special and different , but on screen, Lively’s presence is undeniable. Decked out in Carhartt jumpsuits and chunky rings, the former Gossip Girl star and recent Lady Deadpool – who’s known for influencing the style of her on-screen characters – brings Lily to full-glam life, – decked out in Carhartt jumpsuits and chunky rings, – without making her seem untouchable.
And she works so well with Baldoni, who pulls double duty here as director and one of Lively’s love interests: the beguiling neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, whose violent, jealous nature causes Lily to flash back to her own troubled upbringing. Baldoni b.