‘Materialists’ is a Valuable Asset to Modern Love Stories

Celine Song’s sophomore feature film “Materialists” is a delightful and earnest entry in the rom-com canon. 

The film follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a professional matchmaker, navigating the dating scene for both herself and her clients. Then, at the wedding of a client, she meets her dream man, Harry (Pedro Pascal), while running into her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans). 

Pulled between the contrasting personalities and material wealth of both men, Lucy is forced to consider what the rest of her life might look like — and what her choice says about love. 

Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Madame Web”) brings her typical dry wit and distinctive soft voice to the role. Her affect slides the film from comedy to drama effortlessly — tone never changing between absurdist jokes and intimate monologues. She’s complemented by an equally archetypical Evans (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Knives Out”) as the affable boy-next-door.

Despite their charm, neither actors’ performance strays far from their public personas. Though this provides some sincerity, it comes across as a failure of the duo to make strong character choices. 

Pascal (“The Last of Us,” “The Mandalorian”) steps into the role of the affluent businessman to reaffirm his claim as an internet sex symbol. Harry carts Lucy off to fancy dates, houses her in his multi-million dollar apartment without a second thought and backs up each purchase with suave nonchalance. 

Pascal’s unexpectedly sophisticated performance demonstrates the divide between his character and the working class background of the other two leads. Pascal conveys that just as much as the actor himself, Harry is also playing a role. 

Though the film has moments of tension between the three stars, it’s not a typical love triangle. The film focuses more on Lucy’s internal struggles than any macho rivalry or contest for her affection. “Materialists” makes it clear Lucy isn’t a prize to be won, but a woman with agency and ambition. 

Yet “Materialists” doesn’t just discuss love-triangles, it tackles the dangers that can come with dating. Zoe Winters gives a standout portrayal of Sophie, Lucy’s client who’s assaulted after a date arranged by the matchmaker. Winters (“Succession,” “The Good Fight”) gives assault survivors their due with complexity and emotional range. She swings between deep despair and unexpected humor, bringing the audience on the authentic rollercoaster of trauma’s aftermath.

A24 and Song (“Past Lives”) chose to pair pre-release screenings with classic rom-coms, emphasizing this genre modernization. At AMC NewCity’s early screening on June 10th “Materialists” was paired as a double feature with “The Apartment,” a 1960 romance film.

The classic provided a strong contrast to “Materialists” focus on complex female characters. Though “The Apartment” follows a similar love-triangle involving a businessman and his employer, “Materialists” emphasizes a class separation, and positions the woman as the central figure. Though the two films share little in the way of themes, the choice to present a double feature places “Materialists” in conversation with romantic comedy as a genre. 

The film backs its promise of materialism and critique of its characters with carefully considered set design. From Harry’s high-class sparse penthouse to the clutter and too-familiar radiator at John’s rent-controlled bachelor pad, each character’s faults are exposed through their environment. 

The class holds true for the props as well, with Lucy’s silver cigarette case and John’s unopened pack of American Spirits giving an early hint towards the characters’ divide. There’s even a small nod to Song, listing her name on the poster for John’s play, both a fun thing for attentive viewers to catch and evidence of the film’s meticulous detail. 

This deliberate construction isn’t always so artful, however. Stilted, theatrical monologues break from the relatable performances. While the thesis and point-of-view are strong, suspension of disbelief suffers. 

“Materialists” is a complex and humanizing meditation on how love functions both personally and socially in a modern context. But just as Lucy is torn between her two suitors, the film can’t seem to pick between its head and its heart.

“Materialists,” rated R, is out now in theaters.