The Ending Of Out Of My League Explained

Some of the most popular romantic comedies and dramas of the last few decades have centered on couples dealing with serious illnesses. "The Notebook" gave us a tender look at love that lasts through the years and transcends physical boundaries, "Five Feet Apart" was inspired by real-life cystic fibrosis patients, and few can forget Mandy Moore's touching performance in "A Walk to Remember" as a young woman with leukemia.

Netflix's newest romantic comedy also features the story of a young woman with a terminal illness, though it's balanced with enough humor to keep you from being too devastated by the end. "Out of My League" tells the story of Marta (Ludovica Francesconi), an orphaned young adult who remains vivacious and positive despite her terminal diagnosis. She intends to live life to the fullest and sets her sights on the most handsome guy around, boldly pursuing him with the support of her two best friends Jacopo (Jozef Gjura) and Federica (Gaja Masciale).

Marta's shocked when Arturo (Giuseppe Maggio) accepts her request for a date, and soon, the two are swept up in a romance — though Marta keeps her illness a secret. "Out of My League" is as funny as it is heartbreaking, and a perfect watch for fans of similar films like "The Fault in Our Stars." The ending, however, is not as tragic, so you can rest assured that you won't have your heart completely shattered after watching it.

Let's take a look at the ending of "Out of My League," but be warned — there are spoilers ahead.

When Arturo agrees to a dinner date with Marta, he brings her home to meet his parents and it becomes clear that he did so purposefully — he doesn't get along with his parents, and knows that Marta's eccentricity will put them off. It seems to work, as even when Arturo and Marta start falling for each other, his mother rejects the idea and doesn't think Marta's good enough for her son.

After Marta and Arturo have their big fight, he becomes visibly dejected and his mother sits him down to have a talk. She originally thinks Arturo broke things off with Marta, and even says it was "cruel of him to lead her on," without realizing that Marta was the one who ended things. When Arturo explains that he was dumped, his mother reveals the story of her and her husband's romance, which her father didn't approve of. She and her father became estranged when she refused to break up with her future husband, and their fight lasted until her dad's eventual death.

The moral of her story was to remind Arturo that, even despite his rejection of his privileged life, he always has a choice as to where he wants his future to go. He then decides to follow his heart despite what his family thinks, and he and his mother also embrace warmly before the film's end.

Early in "Out of My League," we learn that Marta has mucoviscidosis, a disease that causes mucus to accumulate in the lungs if she doesn't take her medication and do her physical therapy exercises. Despite the fact that the audience knows this early on, Marta chooses not to disclose the information to Arturo, even as they get closer. Her condition eventually worsens to the point where the medications stop working for her, and the outlook is grim.

Similar films often end with one or both of the protagonists dying from their respective diseases, so it's sensible to assume that Marta will also die by the end of "Out of My League." However, this film ends differently — rather than showing Marta's death, the movie ends on a hopeful note, and Marta and Arturo get married after she confesses the truth and her degenerating condition. Although the future isn't clear, at least the two lovebirds have each other as they get through life's obstacles together.

The sweet ending is a departure from films of a similar nature, which is a nice change from the usual grim portrayal of people with illnesses in general.

Those unfamiliar with the disease Marta suffers from may wonder if it's real, or something made up for the sake of the film. Mucoviscidosis is, in fact, a real illness, and it's also commonly known as cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is a genetic disease that causes a person's mucus to become thick and sticky, and it can lead to infections and even make breathing difficult.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "tremendous advancements in specialized CF care have added years and quality of life to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis. There have been dramatic improvements from the 1950s, when a child with CF rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school to today, with many living long enough to realize their dreams of attending college, pursuing careers, getting married, and having kids."

Although there's currently no cure for CF, there are tons of new medications on the market — similar to what Arturo introduces Marta to at the end of "Out of My League" — that make a huge difference in patients' lives. "Out of My League" helps to shine a light on the disease, and Marta is a great example of the tenacity of CF patients.

While Marta and Arturo embark on their romantic journey in "Out of My League," Jacopo and Federica also get some action — but not the kind that a typical friendship might get into. The two friends are both openly gay, so it comes as a shock to Marta (and us!) when she walks in on them in the middle of a baby-making session. Even though they're only 19, they feel ready to be parents, and feel that their close friendship will make them the perfect team.

Jacopo and Federica provide the film with some much-needed comedic breaks, as they go on their awkward journey of conceiving via at-home turkey baster. By the end of the film, however, the two friends have a heart-to-heart about the realities of having a child, and Jacopo's visible apprehension causes Federica to also pause and reflect.

They eventually decide to put their plan on hold until they both feel more confident to raise a baby without risking their friendship, and they end up arguably closer than ever by the end of the film.