The romantic-drama, ‘Endless Love’ hit theatres Valentine’s Day, appropriately catering to the viewership of lonely singles as well as couples everywhere. While the movie’s overall message was a positive one and focused on the aspect of true love, there were several scenes that did not send a good message.

Main character, Jade, a recent high school graduate, is living with her parents until she is to attend medical school in the fall. After meeting and shortly falling for fellow classmate and graduate, David, they are soon inseparable. However, problems arise when the couple realizes they will not be able to spend the entire summer together. This is due to Jade being accepted into a prestigious internship program that will help better her future that is set to take place in the middle of summer. Despite a limited time period, David and Jade agree to continue seeing each other during the few weeks they will have left together. This plan soon changes when after spending a few weeks with David, Jade decides to give up her internship position, in order to “stay close to him”.

That decision in the movie was greatly disappointing. The importance of Jade receiving the medical internship was stressed multiple times throughout the film, yet it was easily given up. Jade even fights with her father, who is disappointed she is giving up such an amazing opportunity that will better her future, in order to spend more time with a boy she has just begun to date. Jade however, is convinced that “another opportunity will come along eventually”. Maybe that sort of logic is acceptable for the big screen, but it sends a bad message to real life young girls and couples.

It is never a good decision to give up a rare and beneficial opportunity for the sake of others. The target demographic of this film is primarily young girls, and this is not a message they should be exposed to. One should never give up their dreams for their significant other, or at least not for a relationship that has barely been going on for a month. In real life a healthy relationship is made up of two people who encourage each other to make good choices. It is appalling that a movie made for young, impressionable teenagers would send a message basically saying “One should give up their dreams for a boy”. A movie that excessively focuses on “true love” should teach their young audience that it is important to date someone who encourages them to follow their dreams and make the right choices. Because true love is wanting the best for someone else, and encouraging them to make the choices in order to do