After years of massive success on social media and in bookstores, and over 20 books to her name, author Colleen Hoover is finally bringing one of her best-known works to the big screen. Her most famous novel, We end upReleased in 2016, the film became the basis for a movie of the same name. The film stars Hollywood icon Blake Lively as the title character, joined by Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar. Apart from playing one of the lead roles, Baldoni, who is known for his role in the TV series Jane the Virgin And his work in the drama movie five feet awayHe is also a director. We end up.
Even during production, the film adaptation of the novel faced backlash regarding the controversial depiction of important topics such as domestic violence. Netflix The film’s initial release date has been pushed back a few months to August 9th, since a wave of criticism has spread across various social media platforms. Baldoni revealed that despite facing more backlash, he made a massive change to the characters, which could save the controversial story. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the bold move Baldoni took to turn this story around.
What topic do we end up with?
the We end up The novel tells the story of 23-year-old Lily, a dedicated business owner played by Blake Lively, whose life has not always been easy and who has come a long way. Her life seems to be going well, as she has worked hard to achieve success and overcome obstacles along the way, but when she unexpectedly meets a handsome neurosurgeon, everything changes. 30-year-old Ryle Kincaid is so charming that Lily falls instantly in love with him.
However, when her ex-boyfriend, Atlas Corrigan, appears out of nowhere, chaos is inevitable. Riel is overcome with jealousy, revealing his abusive side, but Lily is determined to stay with him. As a result, The three of them were caught in a toxic relationship triangle.and a whirlwind of emotions makes the whole situation increasingly complicated.
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The controversial story behind the film
Although she is considered the queen of the TikTok sub-community, Booktok, Colleen Hoover's novels, especially And we end up It has sparked some heated debates over the controversy surrounding her stories. Although many fans have defended her writing, saying they appreciate her uncompromising, authentic approach, the problematic aspects of Lily's story are hard to deny.
Throughout the novel, It seems as if Hoover is overstating abuse and toxic relationships. Because she failed to allow her character to stand up for herself. When Lily was first abused by her partner, she simply ended up acknowledging that he had a tough side, but she still stood by him. Overall, the events triggered by her ex-boyfriend's appearance should have been a wake-up call, but there was no sign of realization. There are many reasons why she ignored it. We end up Controversial, but The main problem is that it romanticizes domestic violence without encouraging the main character and the readers to stand up for themselves. And stay away as much as possible from their attackers.
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Justin Baldoni's Attempt at Redemption
Baldoni made a radical decision to increase his age.Characters in We end upand it seems well thought out.He realized very quickly that he didn't want to make a film about a 23-year-old girl, because the director's intention first and foremost was to appeal to women of all ages. Avoid exaggerating the toxic relationship.He wants each woman to feel like she is part of his character, to be seen and heard, allowing them to connect with the character on a deeper level and perhaps even relate to her. His decision to make the characters a decade older opens the door to a much wider audience, and perhaps leads to Lily’s story becoming a global one.
In addition, Baldoni's decision takes the story out of the YA genre, partly separating it from a potential glorification of Lily and Ryle's relationship.Admiration and worship of the couple, regardless of the uneasy bond between them, often occurs in the young adult genre, as the target audience is still much younger. By taking a step away from the genre, Baldoni allows the story to develop in a more mature and less controversial way.as the main character has a lot of experience and self-growth in her pocket.
Although Baldoni initially faced backlash for his casting, he apparently listened to the buzz surrounding Hoover’s book. While fans don’t usually appreciate changes surrounding the book’s main characters, this one may have saved the film from a massive meltdown. Be sure to check out the trailer below, and make up your own mind at the end, as We end up It will be available to stream on Netflix on August 9.
