Endless (I) (2020) User Reviews

teen melodrama

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 4 November 2020]

Riley Jean Stanheight (Alexandra Shipp) is driving a car with boyfriend passenger Chris Douglas. There is a car accident and Chris is killed. Riley recovers and blames herself. Chris is dead walking the Earth with fellow dead man Jordan.

The blame for the accident is misplaced all around. The tail lights and the texting are contributing factors but these kids are beating up on themselves in an over-the-top melodramatic fashion. Of course, it's a teen melodrama but this is done in a weak way. There are elements in the ghost connection that is intriguing but it's not well developed into something dramatic. This movie lacks real drama.

A Ghost "Ditto" - but without the star quality

[bob-the-movie-man · 4/10 · 19 October 2020]

Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton) are teenage lovers about to be torn apart... but not in the way you think. Riley is about to turn her back on her talent for comic-book art to follow her parents' wishes: to study law on the other side of the country in Georgetown. Chris is from the other side of the tracks - aren't they always in these films? - living in a one-parent family with his mother Lee (Bond-girl Famke Janssen).

But fate is about to push them even further apart as - with an advert as to why drinking, texting and driving don't mix - Chris is killed in a car crash. Tragedy - when the feeling's gone and you can't go on! Can their love for each other reach beyond death itself, and if so, at what cost?

We've been here before of course with the Demi Moore / Patrick Swayze hit "Ghost" from 1990. That was an Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actress for Whoopi Goldberg and screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin). Will "Endless" - a teen-love version - match this potential? Unfortunately, without a potter's wheel in sight, it doesn't stand a ghost of a chance.

It feels like it's not for the want of trying from the five youngsters* at the heart of the action, with Eddie Ramos and Zoë Belkin playing the lover's best friends and DeRon Horton being the limbo-trapped ghost-guide equivalent to the subway dropout from "Ghost". (* I say "youngsters", but most seem to be in their late twenties!) )

All seem to invest their energy into the project. Unfortunately, with the exception of Alexandra Shipp, the energy is not matched with great acting talent. Poor Nicholas Hamilton (the bully from "It") seems to have a particularly limited range, with his resting acting expression being "gormless".

None of the adult actors fair much better, and I found Famke Janssen particularly unconvincing as the grieving mother.

As I said, the exception here is Alexandra Shipp, who had a supporting role in "Love, Simon" and a more centre-stage role as "Storm" in the otherwise disappointing "X-Men: Dark Phoenix". Here she remains eminently watchable, but is hog-bound by a seriously dodgy script.

If you read my bob-the-movie-man blog regularly, you will know I reach for my flame-thrower at the appearance of voiceovers. And the start of this movie made me shudder with fear as a "tell, not show" approach was followed. It's a mild blessing that the script - by Andre Case and O'Neil Sharma - used this device purely as a slightly lazy way to set the scene and the voiceover didn't rear its ugly head again.

However, on a broader basis, the screenplay doesn't excite with predictability being its middle name. Worse still, it contains lines of mansplaining dialogue that are absolute stinkers. Frustratingly, the story just doesn't really GO anywhere, despite the opportunities to do so. There's an absent father angle, and I was just begging for it to be RILEY that was being told to have the confrontation... but no! And there are whole sections of the movie that defy belief, with a police investigation in particular appearing completely incompetent. The result is that it adds neither drama or tension.

Through my career in IT I've had the great fortune to travel to a number of small cities in Canada, and all have appealed with their consistently picturesque qualities and consistently quirky individuals! Here we have the cities of Kelowna and Vernon in British Columbia playing California, and the drone cinematography (by Frank Borin and Mark Dobrescu) displays the dramatic lake-filled scenery to the full.

With so many cookie-cutter movies out there, it feels like the non-horror "Ghost" recipe (or "Heaven Can Wait" / "It's a Wonderful Life" / "A Matter of Life and Death" / delete per your preference) is well overdue for a makeover. Unfortunately, director Scott Speer's attempt just isn't good enough to fill the void. And that's a shame.

(For the full graphical review, please check out bob-the-movie-man on the web or One Mann's Movies on Facebook. Thanks.)

Endless has a familiar story to older viewers, but it may seem new to teens.

[movieman6-413-929510 · 4/10 · 19 September 2020]

Endless is a new romantic drama directed by Scott Speer, the director of I Still See You and Midnight Sun.

The film is about the couple Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton). Both have just graduated from high school. Riley can continue studying at university, but Chris thinks she should opt for a more creative education. When the two end up in a tragic car accident, Chris is killed. Riley blames himself for his death and ends up in depression. However, Chris is stuck in a world between life and death and thus manages to make contact with Riley. At first, Riley thinks she's going crazy, but when Chris manages to prove that he was able to connect with her as a ghost, the two begin to believe that the bond of true lovers transcends life and death.

This movie can be fun for young teens, but for an older audience it can quickly become predictable. In terms of story, this film is very similar to the 1990 film Ghost. Scott Speer also played with the concept of an afterlife scenario in his film I Still See You, but chose to make more of a horror film. With this film he really seems to play more into the drama aspect of an afterlife scenario, but now with a familiar and somewhat standard story. The script of this film is therefore written by beginning script writers.

Thanks to the default script, the cast doesn't have much to work with either. Alexandra Shipp and Nicholas Hamilton come across well as a teenage couple. When death separates their characters, their mutual bond weakens in the film. Catherine Lough Haggquist and Famke Janssen do good acting as the mothers of the two teens, but both have done better acting in their other films.

almost killed by the ghost called ''loss''

[ops-52535 · 5/10 · 15 August 2020]

Just a little cautious cry to all of you that have just lost someone dear or close. dont watch this one unattended . because its so extremely emotional, and might give you the urges. because its a film of loss, its a film about the 5 phases of crises-management, and it has the ability to make you believe that the ghost are really there, and combined with a heartbreaking kind of score it will open the floodgates of tears, even from the grumpy old ones.

its like the hydra, it pops out a new head from time to time, and ''endless'' is like a rip off of ''ghost'' and ''always'' that really popularized the topic of is there a life after death. these films did make a big impression on me then in the early 90's and still does, maybe thats because im so darn in love with my then girlfriend , now wife.

but as a ripof the story aint good enough, the choice of actors and score are dead on target though, but its far too much sorrow that tucks you into a darkness that you wont feel comfortable with. .the filmography and choice of locations are well done but as a worthy flick of surviving the crisis it aint.

so if you love the metaphysical , wannabelieve parapsychological topics that arises in the film, then have a go, a lovestory of death it is, even though built on the clichees of the past, its a small recommend from the grumpy old man

Ghost 2020

[ks-60500 · 2/10 · 2 September 2020]

Idea is damn old and story is boring indeed. Target audience for 18- can score higher for sure. For adults like me, just feel this one is quite hard to watch especially the human ghost connection because of endless love..... BS!

Familiar story poorly executed..

[nikale-1 · 4/10 · 29 December 2020]

A familiar story. Good idea but poorly executed. Alexandra Shipp does a good job here but can't say the same about the rest of the cast .. they seemed a little wooden to me . It's watchable but more of a tv job when there's nothing else on . Gave this a 4 but maybe a 5 out of 10 or a 6 if you've recently lost someone .

Endless (feeling)

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 4 March 2021]

Recently adding some mystery to your love story seems to be the thing to do. It's not a new thing mind you. It has been done in movies like Ghost (which this happily, at least in Germany, references) to name another "oldie". The thing those movies have in common: you have to suspend your disbelief ... quite a stretch at places to be completely honest.

So if you don't question almost anything in this and accept the very strange but also completely flawed concept ... there is something to enjoy here. The main actors really try their best to give the movie some gravitas. They kind off achieve that ... but again it all will depend on your mindset. My cynical (better?) half of myself would have quite a lot to say about this ... but again, this was not made for that "audience". So while for some endless love may sound fantastic, others quite literally may feel sick just by the thought of it ... not that this doesn't get dark too - but there's always light at the end of the tunnel .. isn't there?

Will appeal to teens

[Sergiodave · 5/10 · 14 December 2020]

A okay teenage movie dealing with the subject of loss. The acting is fine and the story will be good either for younger viewers or for those that haven't watched Ghost. Not bad.

Engaging

[Gordon-11 · 19 August 2020]

This is a very romantic story that transcends boundaries and limits. I think it is engaging. I feel the characters' joy and pain.

Love, grief, and loss is what tells this films story.

[cruise01 · 6/10 · 31 December 2020]

3 out of 5 stars.

Endless is a fair romantic fantasy drama. About a high school student Riley (Alexandra Shipp) who is a bright student. Got accepted to a law school. And is deeply in love with her boyfriend Chris (Nicholas Hamilton). When a car accident leaves him gone. She awakens feeling responsible and guilt that she was the one driving. Chris wakes up as a ghost. Cant be seen by anyone. But finds another guy who is also dead. And lectures him about what is going on. Chris can talk to Riley which she can still hear him.

The plot is decent. Riley cant let go of Chris. He cant let go of her. Until one realizes it is not healthy for one to hold onto the other after death. Chris still having conflict with letting go for her. And his father who walked out on him and his mother. While Riley is dealing with a detective trying to get info if she was guilty. And her parents convincing that she put aside her artwork and focus on being a lawyer.

The cast did an okay job with there performances. Alexandra Shipp and Nicholas Hamilton did fair with there performances.

The direction is a bit cliche for a romantix drama about one trying to move on but cant let go. The soundtrack is also decent and forgettable.

Endless is not a bad film. But it does have decent performances and a fair story that may be forgettable.

I could do a better directing.

[wabudimj · 1/10 · 21 August 2020]

So at the end the ghost had to go manual and run instead of just appearing

Great!

[sabycute · 9/10 · 13 February 2021]

I was looking for a romance movie to watch and i saw this one it had a 4.7 review but i was like like me give it a try.. and i did!! This movie made me tear up so much! Just putting myself in her shoes! Its never easy losing someone and its really well demostrated in this movie! Really recommend it!

Very cute movie!

[brubrumor-01318 · 6/10 · 30 March 2024]

I too lost my soulmate in a car accident.

The car crash scene was very familiar for me. I was not the one driving, my fiance was... but nonetheless the guilt of that day lives with me. How cute it is the wishfull thinking that someone that has passed is still with you, looking over you, taking care of you. So why not believe it? This movie is ficctional of course but God I wish it was like that. And just like on the movie, everyday I have to live for him, travel, enjoy, take care of myself and do the things we used to love. I kept my faith in God because thats what he thought me... 1,2,3 por ti y por mi.

Meh movie. Angry about how I spent 2 hours watching it

[barbaracintra · 1/10 · 20 August 2020]

One of the worst movies I've ever seen. I can't explain how agonized and bored I was from watchinh. When I get a new phone I'll rant more why it's that bad. The only thing that saved it was the main girl protagonist, Ry. Only person whose action work was good.

Bad but mostly entertaining movie

[andreascaloni · 5/10 · 9 April 2021]

Riley and Chris are two high school graduates madly in love, but a tragic car accident separates them. She blames herself for the untimely death of her boyfriend while he remains stuck in limbo. Miraculously, the two find a way to reconnect. The movie is badly written, has a weak characters' development and a simple and been done to death plot. It's simply a bad but mostly entertaining movie.

Rating: 5.

So so

[windsorenquirer · 3/10 · 15 August 2020]

Compared to Ghost from 1990 this movie is really really bad and pointless. But otherwise it's not bad and good enough to kill time when there's nothing better to do. My main problem with this movie is that it's too "liberal" and it shows, so here it is, she doesn't pay any attention to the road and..... opps there's an accident. So whose fault is it? One would think the driver is at fault but not in a liberal world. It's always someone else fault, in this case the owner of the car because the car needed some repairs. But what about her not keeping her eyes on the road? What about her decision to take this car instead of calling a cab, after all she is a rich girl, she can afford it? The ghost was needed to erase her guilt of killing her boyfriend and moving on with her life. She is a good girl, she deserves it (sarcasm). Accidents happen, it's not a reason to ruin someone's life but hey..... let's put the guilt where guilt is. Why isn't it so simple, Hollywood?

Cheap Ghost rehash and less interesting

[carlblackledge · 2/10 · 15 December 2020]

Haven't seen Ghost since it came out at the cinema. But remember enough of it to know this 21st Century wannabe pales in comparison.

The girl who plays Riley had some moments of good acting but the story felt very.... predictable and dare I say hollow. The plot was just too weak to stretch out as long as it did. I watched ghost story last year, which I found far more interesting than this film and the ghosts in that film had bed sheets covering them. Giving it 2 because the lead gave it her best shot.

good to below average acting, such a pity.

[momomojojo · 1/10 · 31 December 2021]

Acting is below average but some moments are above average to good The spacing is just bad, do not understand the reason or the use of it.

Special effect is bad would like to see more action and drama.

The story can be done much nicer Everything is juts below average that it does not make it good.

Yuck, that movie is so gross like NC-17 movies

[lorickignacio · 1/10 · 22 April 2021]

This is look like all that idiotic 0 ratings agency of the year. I can't stand Alexander Shipp and Nicholas Hamilton acting. The only Rated R movies I hate. I thought this movie was excited, but heck no. I don't want to kiss scenes looks like of all idiotic mental.

Only good?

[ariabdulla · 10/10 · 15 August 2020]

Well done movie, but you gotta know this isn't for everyone. The movie is more emotional and heartwarming than your typical sexy movies. great acting by both of the main characters. I loved everything about this movie.

Forgettable

[DreamVividly · 5/10 · 13 August 2023]

I really wanted to like this as I'm a huge fan of epic romance/drama movies. However this came up pretty short for me and a bit of a disappointment. I feel like this could have been so much better and had potential but just didn't deliver. Alexandra Shipp's acting was well done but I didn't get a sense of chemistry between her and the male actor ( forgot name). The story could have been stronger and more emotional if there was any chemistry between the two as I mentioned but unfortunately it felt forced. I've only watched this one time and so many aspects of the movie were just forgettable, it just doesn't stick out to me and I honestly doubt I would watch it again. Over all it was just ok & decent I guess but didn't suffice as a strong love story.

Could've been better

[nicolaperrin · 4/10 · 22 November 2023]

This movie has a lot of potential. I liked the idea of the storyline, but the execution of it wasn't so great. There was no character development at all and they didn't dive into their relationship very much before the boyfriend was killed. We didn't really get to see how much they loved each other, we mostly just saw them arguing. Unless I was so bored I wasn't paying attention completely. It did bore me quite a bit actually, so I did miss a few scenes. The acting wasn't too bad, I've see much worse. The main character was the best in my opinion. With better execution of the storyline, this could have been a very popular movie, as I think it's something that would appeal to a younger audience. Not the worst I've seen, but as I said, it could've been better.

Think Ghost meets Just Like Heaven

[lisafordeay · 5/10 · 11 January 2024]

Endless is a 2020 romantic fantasy starring Alexandra Shipp,Nicholas Hamiliton and Famkee Fansen.

The story follows two teens Riley (Shipp) and Chris (Hamilton) who are have been dating for years. However things take a turn when Chris dies in a car crash,leaving Riley the solo occupant to survive the crash. Since then she blames herself for his death,unaware that Chris is stranded on Earth.

Miraculously, the two find a way to connect by drawings that Riley drew. Will the two find a way to get together or will Riley move on from Chris?.

Overall it was an underrated film. The story has been done to death (Ghost and Just Like Heaven ) but it's still watchable.

I don't think this is as bad as some other reviewers are suggesting.

[agmoldham · 4/10 · 19 January 2021]

I've noticed a few reviewers suggesting that this movie was touted as Ghost for teenagers. Not sure if that was the way the film was promoted, but I can't really see why the 2 movies are being compared. I watched the movie a few days ago and was hard pushed to remember much about it. It is a paint by numbers movie which leaves you feeling frustrated because it could have been better. Having said that it isn't overly long and kept my interest for the 90 minutes running time. Would have been better if there was a bit more chemistry between the 2 leads.

Worth every penny

[dijamakulyte · 10/10 · 17 October 2020]

I went into this expecting nothing good. I saw the trailer on youtube and the comments made me feel that way. So yesterday I went to the movie. I also have an opportunity to write an objective review, based on this movie alone, since I've never seen a movie called "Ghost" as many claim, this movie is a knockoff of. Long story short I left the movie theatre with my mascara running down my face, because of how emotional the last part of the movie made me. The soundtracks were great and made the emotional scenes even more emotional. The movie was fast-paced, which I liked, cause sometimes, slow-paced movies might get boring. All in all, great movie, not my favourite, but definitely up there in my list.