SXSW Online 2021: The End of Us Review

Keith NoakesMarch 27, 202178/100n/a5 min
Starring
Ben Coleman, Ali Vingiano, Derrick Joseph DeBlasis
Writers
Steven Kanter, Henry Loevner
Directors
Steven Kanter, Henry Loevner
Rating
n/a
Running Time
92 minutes
Release Date
n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
The End of Us is a charming dramedy for the pandemic age whose grounded approach is lifted by the performances and chemistry of Coleman and Vingiano.

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s SXSW Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

The pandemic theme continues once again with The End of Us, a compelling character study about its impact on modern relationships. Unlike a recent Hollywood production liked Locked Down, this film takes a more grounded approach due to its indie nature but it pays off. Just like most limited productions, if audiences can’t get behind the main characters then this will undoubtedly be a tough watch. Instead of making the pandemic the focus of the film, though it still had an impact on the story, it was about two characters and their evolving relationship because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the same is undoubtedly happening or has happened to audiences all around the world. In terms of this story, it follows Nick (Coleman) and Leah (Vingiano), a couple who happened to break up as the pandemic was at its early stages. Because of California’s stay-at-home order, the two are forced to continue living together in spite of that.

Suffice it to say that it wasn’t easy for Nick and Leah as the film may be called The End of Us but it wasn’t necessarily the end for them, rather a new beginning though it unsurprisingly took them some time to get there. Though the writing was on the wall as far as their relationship was concerned, it still came as a shock for the sleazy aspiring actor Nick. Nonetheless, the two still had issues to deal with while having to do so underneath the same roof presented its own expected challenges. This time together in the midst of the pandemic allowed each of them the newfound perspective they needed to mend their differences and reassess the state of their relationship. The will-they-or-won’t-they get back together is inevitable but that rediscovery was somewhat compelling to watch. In the end, what made it work was Coleman and Vingiano as Nick and Leah and their great chemistry that kept things fun to watch throughout.

Overall, The End of Us is a good pandemic age film that will surely hold up past whenever this one is over.

still courtesy of SXSW


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