Blake Lively appears in a scene from “It Ends With Us.”

“It Ends With Us” is a film filled with good intentions that ultimately can’t find a way to effectively deliver its important message.

The adaptation of a novel by Colleen Hoover that explores the trauma of domestic violence and the long-lasting effects it has on all of the family manages to tackle this subject matter in a very respectful manner. The message gets lost, however, in a clunky narrative where the audience is so far ahead of the characters that the slow pacing feels even slower.

“Us” tells the story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a young woman who abruptly leaves her father’s funeral – still holding the pain of his abusiveness to both her and her mom (Amy Morton).

Lily winds up on a Boston rooftop (one of the handful of plot points that feel wedged in only to advance the narrative), where she meets a handsome neurosurgeon named Ryle (Justin Baldoni, who also serves as the film’s director).

They connect immediately, although Lily ultimately spurns his advances. A few months later, Lily has opened her flower shop when Ryle shows up (in another of the film’s coincidences, he is the brother of Lily’s employee Allysa played by Jenny Slate).

This encounter leads to a relationship that we see unfold intertwined to flashbacks when teenage Lily (Isabela Ferrer) befriended a homeless classmate named Atlas (Alex Neustaedter) and eventually the relationship evolved into first love for both.

Of course, the adult Atlas (Branden Sklener) eventually shows up in present day – just as Lily is starting to see some warning flags that suggest Ryle might not be all he appears to be – and that the relationship could be spiraling into something similar to that of her mother and father.

“It Ends With Us” tries to tackle a lot in the film’s 130-minute run time – from the main theme of domestic violence, to homelessness and suicide. The problem is there is so much narrative to wade through to get to these themes that it all becomes quite exhausting.

For the longest time, the film feels more like a romantic comedy (albeit with very little laughs save for Slate’s character). It’s as if Baldoni and screenwriter Christy Hall do everything they can to hide the dark side of Ryle for as long as possible, a decision that undercuts the effectiveness of the message.

Lively tries to make it all work in a performance that is way better than the material presented. Ferrer also makes a positive impression, showing an on-screen presence that has me interested to see where her career goes from here.

“It Ends With Us” is well-made, but ultimately over-stuffed. There is a good film buried somewhere inside this Lifetime movie facade, making it even more frustrating to have to sit through.

Starring: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni

Directed by: Justin Baldoni

Rating: PG-13 for domestic violence, sexual content and some strong language

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: C-