The first images from Blake Lively’s new film, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends with Us, have sparked criticism for the ‘insane’ way they depict the plot.
Gossip Girl actress Lively, 36, stars opposite Justin Baldoni, 40, who also directs, in the film adaptation of Hoover’s best-selling 2016 novel.
Fans, however, have been unimpressed by the nature of the movie photos released, which show Lively as young business owner Lily Bloom and Baldoni as ambitious neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid at the centre of a whirlwind romance.
In one scene, they’re singing karaoke together, and in another, Lively as Lily is seen holding his face tenderly during a conversation.
There’s also a photo of Lively sitting in a restaurant, smiling up at co-star Brandon Sklenar (1923, Vice), who plays Atlas Corrigan, Lily’s old childhood friend and romantic rival.
As those who have read the book know, It Ends with Us is centred on a storyline of domestic violence, which has previously seen the book branded ‘toxic’ despite its popularity on TikTok, and has inspired a 2022 sequel – It Starts with Us.
‘Still insane to me that they promote this as a romance book/movie,’ commented Rem on X alongside the film’s stills.
‘I find it very odd that the book and now the movie are promoted as a romance story,’ agreed @lizthedamnszn.
Over on Instagram, the frustrations were even more stark with @sophiamaria.s asking: ‘Can you stop advertising it as a romance movie?? It’s about domestic violence.’
‘Just a reminder this is not a romantic movie! It depicts a toxic and extremely abusive relationship,’ added @maggiecaverhill.
‘For people who haven’t read the book it’s not a romance 💀,’ warned @lumq.x, while @charlaezb insisted: ‘The movie should be advertised as a tragedy, not a romance!!’
Others defended both the film, which director Baldoni has been working on for five years, and the book, claiming that the initial romance was an important part of the plot.
‘It starts out as a romance story and ends in domestic violence. That’s the point of the story. How you can get love bombed and then end up in a situation like, especially coming from a traumatic childhood, and how you can find yourself trauma bonding with someone,’ posted @blayy_4, adding: ‘But the most important message is how she chose to end the cycle of violence.’
‘For all the comments about “it’s not a romance, it’s about a toxic relationship involving DV” that’s the point of it. To recognise that dv still happens, and they probably are gonna show how to get out of it, and get help,’ wrote @alisha.jj.204.
‘It is adapted to show people who are going through the same thing, that they are not alone, and will give them hope that there is a way out for them.’
The author’s parents’ relationship inspired her to write the novel.
She told People magazine that director Baldoni, known for playing Rafael in Jane the Virgin, alongside the cast and crew, ‘maintained the essence of this book in a delicate and beautiful way’.
‘The readers are the reason this book has been adapted, and I appreciate how much Justin wants to make sure those readers get the movie they deserve,’ she added.
‘I’m confident they’ll be happy with what has been created.’
The It Ends with Us cast also includes Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj and Amy Morton, as well as Isabela Ferrer and Alex Neustaedter playing the young versions of Lively and Sklenar’s characters.
It Ends with Us is scheduled for release in cinemas on August 9.
Who to call if you need help
For emotional support you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in an LGBT relationship you can also call the helpline run by Broken Rainbow and Galop UK, on 0800 9995428.
Male victims can call also the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327.
