Joey Magidson
Modern dating is…not great. Between technology, the anxieties of the day, and all of the added pressures put on everyone, it’s actually kind of a miracle any date goes well, let alone can blossom into a relationship. So, why do we do it? I know I’ve had many a tale that I could tell of dates that went awry. Well, it’s the hope for love, right? At the same time, how does that absolute positive brush up against all that negative? That’s just one element being considered in Materialists, a romantic drama that’s only masquerading in promotional materials as a romantic comedy. There’s a lot going on in this film, to be sure. It’s a lot of things. A rom-com? Not even in the slightest, so just know that going in.
Materialists is a romantic movie that still manages to have a heaping does of cynicism and realism mixed in. It has the capacity to really upset you, given the razor sharp precision with which the subject matter is being depicted. Rom-coms are fantasy, of course, so they can play by their own rules. This flick sticks almost entirely to the real world, give or take a cinematic moment that does still manage to be effective. This is at the very least a deconstruction of the romantic comedy, if not just a romantic drama of the first order.
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a top of the line matchmaker in New York City. Responsible for nine marriages already, she looks at dating, relationships, and even marriage as a business transaction. While he clients are unrealistic, she is laser focused on finding them people who check all of the right boxes. Lucy is single, seemingly uninterested in relationships, with all of her attention on getting the men and women who pay for her service the best she has to offer.
At the wedding of one of her success stories, she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), the brother of the groom. He’s charming, rich, and would make an absolutely perfect client, as he checks all of the boxes. Harry, however, is only interested in Lucy, pursuing her almost immediately. She’s interested, though still determined to be single. At the same time, who does she see working at the wedding than her ex, John (Chris Evans). They’re really happy to see each other and the chemistry is clear, though they’re also quick to remember the fights over lifestyles and money that drove them apart. Immediately, the difference between the wealthy private equity man in Harry and the struggling actor in John are clear.
After a few meetings, Lucy acquiesces and begins dating Harry. She’s as taken with his possessions as she is with him, if not more so. John being back around, albeit as a friend, also is on her mind, as he certainly still carries a torch for her. While juggling this perfect match and imperfect ex, events at work begin to make her question not just matchmaking, but love and relationships as well. It may sound traditional, but in execution, it’s anything but.
The trio of Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal have rarely been better. Johnson is the lead and in nearly every scene, utilizing her sometimes cold aura to excellent use. As she allows Lucy’s walls to come down, you really fee like you’re getting to know her. It’s terrific work by Johnson. Evans may look like Captain America still, but he plays this character as a lovable loser, someone who hasn’t figured it out, maybe never will, but has a cuddliness to him, even when he’s being prickly. It would have been easy to make him a generic rom-com character, but that never happens. As for Pascal, he elevates his character as well, especially during a third act heart to heart with Johnson. She has great chemistry with both men, leading to a situation where half the audience may be rooting for Lucy to end up with Harry, while the other half is pulling for John. Supporting players include Marin Ireland and Zoe Winters, but this is Evans, Johnson, and Pascal’s show.
Filmmaker Celine Song follows up Past Lives with another well thought out romantic drams, even if this one does have a broader appeal. Still, especially early on, the few jokes that there are are all pointed in a way few rom-coms are. Materialists has some humor, but there’s cynicism, heart, and soul on display in higher quantities. The weekend date crowd may be in for a surprise, but provided that they keep an open mind, what they’re going to get is a far fuller cinematic meal.
Materialists is not what the trailers are selling, in the best way possible. I love a fun little romantic comedy, to be fair, but this flick is far deeper and rougher-edged than that, as well as decidedly more mature. If you loved Past Lives, this is only a slightly more mainstream effort from Song. She’s two for two, without question, with an exciting future ahead of her behind the camera.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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