MovieChat Forums > Like Crazy (2012) Discussion > Don't Misread the Ending (Spoilers)

Don't Misread the Ending (Spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by spkd49
11 replies | jump to latest

While the ending is ambiguous, it doesn't require the viewer to assume the relationship did or did not come to an immediate ending. I'd argue that it was Anna who did the most to keep the relationship going - she was willing to relocate to LA even with her budding career, the responsibility of settling the visa mess was hers, and she initiated the marriage discussion. Therefore, when we see that it's she who leaves the shower at the end, we know something's up - some (or all) of the passion has gone.

Might she have gotten dressed immediately after the shower and driven to the airport to go back to London? Probably not, she didn't have her job and she had fought so long to get back to Jacob, that even if the relationship was truly dead by the time they shared the shower, they were going to give it a futile try.

There's an argument too that the attempt to keep the relationship wasn't futile. No relationship remains static - either they fizzle and die, or they evolve. When they evolve, passion gives way to other things that cement love in the relationship, such as the kindness and genuineness each had for the other (no depriving of bacon for Jacob and Scotch for Anna). They'd been through a lot, but it's plausible their love and compatibility could keep them together.

To me, the ending isn't to make me wonder what happens to the relationship, but to show that all loving relationships begin in a cocoon of passion, which cannot last forever. We see Anna and Jacob's cocoon break, which is what happens in the real world, and it's sad.

[–] buffy_danielle 12 years ago

I definitely agree with both points spkd49 makes about the passion fading and the possibility that they were able to make it work after the fact. I think that on one hand, it's possible that over the span of time they had spent separately developing their own lives and becoming adults, they realized they may also have grown apart and that their original relationship no longer fit for either of them because it didn't develop with them. On the other hand, it is possible that Anna left the shower first to show that she was no longer worried about losing Jacob. Perhaps having each other and knowing that they weren't going to lose one another for geographical reasons took away the desperation that infused their relationship earlier on. Perhaps now, they can simply lives their lives.

[–] duderino2 11 years ago

I totally agree with both of you. I actually had a long distance relationship for almost 8 years. Situations like the last one when she gets to L.A. and to his apartment, where everything is weird and uncomfortable were normal in our relationship. You need time to getting used to the other person. The love needs to find a way through all of the things which distracted and kept you apart. In our case it took at least one day when we didn't see each other for 6 months. I wouldn't recommend this for any couple, but when you want to make it work, you can make it work. But that's the beauty of this movies ending. It's actually pretty open, the decision is if you want to be believe that they made it work out that they couldn't, which reflects how every person feels about how they feel about love. Oh and by the way.. we are now happily married.

[–] tronquito 11 years ago

Bless you! And my congratulations (no sarcasm here)
You must be two very special people...
8 years ? you two are two in a million
With my admiration and respect

[–] jalalcool89 11 years ago

yeah the ending is real and genuine,but still that doesent make it any less sad,i found myself really hoping by the end for at least a smile from one of them to hope for the passion being still alive.

[–] hockey73 11 years ago

A healthy relationship stands upon a strong foundation. I believe this foundation is built with constant interaction, both emotional and physical; couples are there for each other, go through all the ups and downs together, something that is often times lost in a long distance relationship(not always!). So when they look back, their memories are a reaffirmation of the strong foundation they have built. Jacob and Anna provide a contrast to this. Due to their strenuous circumstances, their foundation was built upon memories, rather than the accumulation of constant interaction. So when they look back, all they see is what they used to be and nothing more, so their foundation is incredibly fragile. That being said the beauty of this movie lies in the way of its multiple interpretations, as the user above me said. On the optimistic side I can see the ending interpreted as Jacob and Anna, finally being able to build a strong foundation. As someone stated in a past thread, neither of them has to leave, so they can finally relax in that sense. Them recalling the memories and Anna walking out can be a representation that they no longer have to create these extremely powerful memories every moment they are together as they did before( given that they didn't know the next time they would see each other). Now they can start from scratch and build their relationship from the ground up, creating new memories along the way. Pessimistically, the recollection of memories and Anna walking out could be a representation of the realization that what they are standing upon is nothing more than memories. The past, when life between the two seemed limitless, is just that, the past, and they have now caught up to reality, one in which they have grown too far apart.

I actually choose to believe in both scenarios, because I see Jacob and Anna as nothing more than a representation of real life couples, so either situation could be a reality.

[–] Oskiros-Arg 11 years ago

I don´t know if the couple go ahead or not (nobody knows), but I´m sure the relationship is in another step.

Bye bye romance... hello marriage..

This is bad... but is good at the same time.

They are in another moment of their lifes and they are not the same persons like in that lovely summer.

Oscar
Hablo mejor español :)

[–] clownbaby866 11 years ago

The ending is ambiguous and open-ended, much like the end scene in The Graduate (if you haven't seen it, I recommend it). It's a very sad ending, if you ask me. The two were so in love but so many obstacles were put their way and they were separated for so long and lead different lives that when they finally got together in the end, they realized the spark was gone. The love that they had for each other vanished and was no more. In the shower, they're both remembering these amazing happy memories together, but they both seem so sad. It's 'cause they realize that that happiness is no longer there. And they can never get it back. Too much has happened. The theme is very similar to films like "Closer" and "Brokeback Mountain", except in this case they end up together, but that's the sad part.

It actually makes me reflect on my own past relationships. I have been missing someone I broke up with four years ago. I've been in a long-term relationship since and dated other girls since, but now I think back at what we had and realize that we could've been something great, if I didn't give up on us. But seeing this movie makes me realize that if we were to somehow reconnect, it wouldn't be the same mad love we had when we were together. We have been through so many things in life - relationships, school, jobs, memories, events, etc. As much as I want the love to still be there, I know deep down that it probably wouldn't be. This is the same with Jacob & Anna. They may stay together, who knows. But that's not the point. The point is, they lost that mad intense feeling of love they had for each other, and it will never come back. And that's sad.

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

[–] Oskiros-Arg 11 years ago

.. the river never is the same.... :)

Oscar
Hablo mejor español :)

[–] tronquito 11 years ago

Agree, the fire had been extinguished by adversity and b/c their giving themselves to other people (Simon and Samantha)Anna may have forgiven, that Jacob had started a relationship with Sam and lied and denied it, but she will never forget.
Jacob IMHO will never get past the fact that Anna slept with Simon. Few men ever do.
Not ambiguous ending, the fire is gone, there may be a few warm ashes, they are disenchanted, disillusioned and most importantly TRUST is gone as well.
My forecast? I will give them 3 months tops. VERY, VERY SAD

[–] clownbaby866 11 years ago

I stated that the ending is ambiguous simply not to make anyone who thinks otherwise feel like they missed it or that they're wrong. Although I'm 99% sure that the ending is exactly what you and the OP said it was. A sad tale of young love ruined by life's obstacles.

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

[–] duongdogg 8 years ago

It is sort of a bittersweet ending.