Pass the popcorn and ridicule this movie

Normally I would never watch romantic schlock like It Ends with Us (based on the Colleen Hoover book), the 2024 Netflix film directed by Justin Baldoni and starring him and Blake Lively. But given the massive controversy over the film and lawsuits back and forth between the two prime stars, Netflix's release of the film this weekend was a longing-for-popcorn moment. I sat back and watched and smirked the whole way through, constantly mouthing cutting remarks to both of the stars though I sided with Baldoni on this one. Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and Baldoni countersued, then a settlement was reached over the past month. She accused him of sexual harassment, ironically given that is a theme of the film. It was the stuff of constant Hollywood headlines and even I, someone not much into celebrity gossip, couldn't stop reading about it. So regardless of any quality the film might have had technically it's overlaid with the feud surrounding it. It's kind of like watching Tommy Wiseau's The Room, often considered the worst movie ever made. Technically, Ends is well made if a bit romantically syrupy. It oozes cotemporary vibes with Lively striking out as as a small town girl (Lily Bloom - seriously) in Boston opening her own flower shop. On a summer rooftop evening she meets Ryle, whom she takes for a crypto bro (he looks it) but is a neurosurgeon. Love, uh, blooms. And there is loads of intimacy, leading one to see how one or another of the characters may have stepped over the line. In the film Lively struck me as more vulnerable (and younger) than I imagined and Baldoni extraordinary handsome and a take no guff kind of guy (hence counter lawsuit). But what annoyed me the most was how gooey hip contemporary the whole thing was, complete with Rob Simonsen and Duncan Blickenstaff's plaintive emotive score. More chardonnay please, please.