As a devoted reader of Colleen Hoover’s works, I must say that adapting a beloved novel like “It Ends With Us” into a movie is no easy task. The book’s rich details and profound emotional depth can often seem overwhelming when it comes to translating them onto the big screen. However, in this case, I believe Colleen made wise decisions in altering certain aspects of the story for the movie version.
BookTok’s biggest sensation has officially blossomed to the big screen.
On August 9, the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel “It Ends With Us” featuring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar was released in theaters. Since its popularity surge on TikTok in 2021, there has been much anticipation about how well the film would compare to the best-selling book.
The story alternates between two periods in Lily’s life: first, when she is a 23-year-old embarking on a flower shop venture, and second, her turbulent teenage years marked by a challenging home environment, particularly a situation of abuse, during which she provided aid to Atlas at a crucial moment.
The movie has received Colleen’s endorsement because it was accurately adapted, with her pointing out that it remained faithful to what fans anticipated and also to her own expectations.
Last month, I shared with TopMob News my thoughts after immersing myself in that fantastic movie. I couldn’t help but rave about the cast – they truly nailed their roles, bringing to life exactly what I had envisioned for this masterpiece!
But that’s not to say the film is a beat for beat retelling.
She noted that with each adjustment, certain elements must be altered. In essence, you’re compressing this entire narrative into a movie, which necessitated some modifications to improve the overall coherence and smoothness.
The changes don’t necessarily mean for the worse, either. One major thing that Colleen noted the movie has over the book? A “phenomenal” Blake.
“Colleen observed that, given the seriousness of this book’s content and its emotional depth, it would benefit from some humor, and she executes it exceptionally.”
Despite some alterations, the film might not be exactly as you anticipate. Curious about these differences? Then simply continue to scroll down.
*Warning: It Ends with Us Spoilers ahead*
For devoted fans of “It Ends with Us,” the film adaptation introduced a contentious shift. In the novel, Lily is portrayed as being 23 years old. Although no character’s age in the movie is explicitly mentioned, it seems clear that the narrative moves forward slightly from the book’s timeline.
It became clear to viewers that the film “It Ends With Us” made an excellent choice by casting Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni (who also directed), and Brandon Sklenar, all in their thirties during casting. Notably, the author approved of this decision, particularly since Ryle’s profession as a neurosurgeon required mature actors.
Surprisingly, it’s Ellen DeGeneres, the renowned comedian and ex-daytime talk show host, who plays a significant part in the book. Intriguingly, the protagonist, Lily Bloom, chronicles her life through letters addressed to Ellen or “The Ellen Diaries.” This is how readers uncover the truth about Lily’s relationship with her parents and her first encounter with Atlas.
Although the movie subtly acknowledges the frequent Ellen motif from the book by including a quick scene of Lily’s journal with a page titled “Dear Ellen” and a brief snippet from The Ellen DeGeneres Show in one part, the comedian doesn’t play a significant role within the film.
In my dedication to Ellen, I find solace in echoing her iconic phrase from “Finding Nemo,” “Just Keep Swimming.” This mantra becomes a personal anthem for me during challenging times, as depicted throughout the book, and even finds its way into Atlas’ final words. The movie itself is subtly acknowledged too, with a poster of its poster gracing the wall of Lily’s teenage bedroom at the start of the story.
Throughout the movie, Lily’s eulogy for her father serves as a recurring theme in her journey with him. On a napkin, she lists five things she adores about her father, though these remain unwritten. In the film’s finale, she lays this napkin on his grave, symbolizing their bond.
In the original script, events unfolded differently from what we see on screen. Unlike Serena Van Der Woodsen from Gossip Girl, Lily doesn’t make a quick exit from the funeral. Instead, she remains silent and stationary for several minutes before being removed by a relative. Additionally, the movie introduces a new element – a meaningful moment involving a napkin that wasn’t present in the original version of the story.
While moviegoers will discover Atlas’ culinary skills, they won’t witness his gestures of appreciation towards Lily, which are often expressed through gifts in the book. In the story, it appears that Atlas demonstrates his affection for Lily by giving her thoughtful presents, such as a Boston keychain on her birthday when they were teenagers. This item becomes significant later on, causing a dispute between Lily and Ryle after they lose touch.
After reuniting as grown-ups, he presents Ellen with an autographed copy of the comedian’s book, “Seriously…I’m Kidding”. Inside, she wrote, “Lily, Atlas suggests you keep going.” This book had a message from the author.
In the movie adaptation, neither Ellen nor Lily’s mom have as significant roles as they do in the original book. Unlike the novel where Lily’s mom accompanies her to Boston and spends considerable time with her, the film features fewer scenes involving her character.
In the movie, Ryle’s mother, residing in England, is absent and appears only in the novel for a single scene. Similarly, other characters from Lily’s life that do not appear in the film include Lucy, her roommate who later finds employment at Lily’s flower shop in the sequel titled “It Starts With Us,” and Devin, Lily’s former coworker who attends Allysa’s birthday party with her, momentarily pretending to be her boyfriend to provoke Ryle’s jealousy.
Atlas’ restaurant colleagues Brad, Darin, and Jimmy (who are seen playing poker with Lily at one point) have similarly been let go from their jobs.
The depiction of domestic violence in the film differs significantly from the books, with some scenes being portrayed differently or even rearranged. For instance, while in the book Ryle only pushes Lily down to cool his burnt hand under the sink after the incident occurs, in the movie this event takes place immediately following his contact with a hot surface.
In the given scene of the novel, Lily’s laughter due to intoxication is described as being unstoppable. This continues until Ryle acts aggressively. The author writes that Ryle expresses his frustration with her by saying, “Lily, you’re not funny at all.” He then adds, “This hand of mine is crucial for my future.”
After pushing Lily down the stairs in the story, she evicts Ryle from their apartment, leaving him to spend the night sleeping in the corridor instead.
In the captivating narrative, I, as an ardent follower, noticed that the discourse concerning abuse unfolds distinctly in the film compared to the novel. For instance, unlike in the book where Lily’s family history of domestic violence is revealed on our first encounter, in the movie, Ryle becomes aware of this only after they’ve been dating for some time.
In the movie, there’s a heartfelt discussion between Lily and her sister-in-law Allyssa (played by Jenny Slate) following Lily’s discovery of Ryle’s past violent acts, including an incident where he accidentally shot his brother as children. In contrast, in the book, it is Ryle himself who discloses to Lily how his brother met his end, and Allyssa doesn’t advise Lily against reconciling with Ryle due to his abusive tendencies.
In the book, although the sentiment remains the same, Atlas’ restaurant isn’t called Atlas’ Restaurant Root; instead, it’s named Bib’s, a name derived from their teenage catchphrase “Better in Boston.” This alteration helps readers who haven’t read the book better understand the depth of Atlas’ affection for Lily, as Colleen pointed out.
Colleen clarified to TopMob News that “It symbolized something crucial in the novel, a key aspect for Lily to express his feelings towards her character,” she said. “Given the constraints on time in the film adaptation, we altered the restaurant’s name from its original title to Root, as it was not feasible to include all the intricate details from the book to recreate that poignant scene.”
Indeed, the character’s name “Root” is connected to a dialogue occurring between Lily and Atlas depicted in the movie, a point that Lily mentions about Atlas in her book.
“Lily points out that certain entities, such as trees, can stand tall without needing help from others, a trait she believes Atlas possesses too, given his remarkable resilience compared to what she’d exhibit in similar circumstances.”
In the book, Ryle and Lily tie the knot with Allysa, Marshall (Hasan Minhaj), and their families present. The film doesn’t linger much on this significant moment, but unlike the movie, Lily’s mother was indeed there in the book. It’s plausible they made costly late-night trips across the country to Nevada for the wedding.
In the novel, Lily chooses the name Emerson Dory for their baby, honoring Ryle’s deceased brother and acknowledging her and Atlas’ mutual admiration for Ellen DeGeneres. This way, Emerson represents Ryle, while Dory signifies a tribute to both Atlas and Ellen.
In the film, we encounter “Emerson” as a character, but the birth scene where Allysa and Marshall welcome their newborn is included. However, contrary to expectations, the movie does not reveal that they named their daughter Rylee after Allysa’s late brother Ryle.
The characters in this adaptation might wear outfits that differ somewhat from what readers envisioned. In fact, there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding the movie version of “It Ends With Us“, as photos of the costumes used during filming sparked some strong reactions online. However, the book itself doesn’t provide many detailed descriptions of clothing, with exceptions such as Ryle’s medical scrubs or Lily wearing a loose sweater.
As for what Colleen had to say about the backlash?
As a lifestyle aficionado, I shared with Today that fashion isn’t my primary focus when interacting with others. To me, it’s all about the captivating dialogue and the fascinating tales being exchanged. Just like in a movie scene, it’s the conversation and the narrative that truly matter to me.
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2024-08-10 13:19