‘The End of Us’ is the first pandemic rom-com | SXSW review

Nick and Leah argue the merits of wearing a mask on a jog. | Credit: Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter

The End of Us follows a couple who unfortunately breaks up just as the world locks down in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic

How it Ends try to make a relatable pandemic-set romantic-comedy, instead the overwhelming feeling is “too soon.”

It's oddly fitting that The End of Us, directed by Henry Loevner and Steven Kanter, is premiering at the SXSW Online 2021 Film Festival when last year's edition was the first major event canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. The film follows the first few months through the eyes of Nick (Ben Coleman) and Leah (Ali Vingiano), a couple that unfortunately decides to break up just as the nation goes into lockdown, leaving them stranded together.

Unlike any other large historical event, the very nature of the pandemic allowed it to be documented in almost real-time. And while in some iterations it could be effective — see Shudder's brilliant Host — the result with The End of Us is a resounding “too soon.”

Because the film begins with Nick and Leah's breakup, we only see the worst of both of them. Instead of humorously skewering millennial relationships or LA culture, both characters just seem, to be frank, terrible people. Leah is particularly shown in a bad light, which feels a bit icky considering the film is based on Coleman's real-life breakup.

The first 30 minutes of the film is dedicated to a “previously on” recap of the pandemic. Leah is forced to work from home while Nick loses his bartending job as the country locks down. However, instead of triggering a visceral reaction — like when you see and meme and say, “heh, relatable” — it feels oddly dated. Perhaps if we saw this in a decade it'd feel more like poignant rather than taking advantage of a moment.

What I was really craving was a story about two exes forced together by extraneous circumstances, that's where the interesting story lies. Instead, the film focuses on baking bread, arguing about masks, and pandemic hookups. By the time we get to the actual substance, it feels like we didn't actually go anywhere or learn anything about the pair.

The final scene, which could have had an impact had this been a different film, is a glimpse into what could have been. The End of Us is a prime example of a great premise done at the wrong time. In a few years and with more perspective on the pandemic (and the breakup), perhaps this would be a time capsule of our current era. Instead, it's just an artifact of the time itself.

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Hey! I'm Karl. You can find me on Twitter here. I'm also a Tomatometer-approved critic.

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Karl Delossantos

Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.