Materialists (2025)

​“Materialists” stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, Louisa Jacobson, Sawyer Spielberg, Eddie Cahill, Joseph Lee, and John Magaro.  Released on June 13, 2025, the film has a matchmaker caught in a love triangle between two men.

The film was written and directed by Celine Song, known for writing and directing “Past Lives”.  It’s always important as a matchmaker to find the ideal romantic pairing.  It may not always be easy considering the varying preferences on romance, but if the right opportunity comes in a romantic match, there’s a guarantee that sparks will fly in their “happily ever afters”.  But what if there’s a scenario in which the matchmaker is actually the one trying to find the right match for themselves?  The answer lies in Celine Song’s latest directorial venture, which reveals that romance isn’t as easy as we see in fictional rom-coms, following her awards run with 2023’s “Past Lives”.  I should know because I’m still navigating the complexities of modern dating myself.  Does it offer enough romantic vibes to find love within its material world?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Lucy (Johnson), a former actress turned successful matchmaker for a New York-based firm, Adore.  She’s also single by choice, with the condition that she’ll only date and then marry a wealthy man.  While attending a wedding of her ninth successful pairing, Lucy meets the groom’s rich brother, Harry Castillo (Pascal), who takes an interest in her.  She also reunites with her ex-boyfriend, John (Evans), who she broke up with due to the financial strain of their codependence.  As the two distinct men strive to be part of Lucy’s life, the matchmaker finds her perspective on romance challenged as she struggles to find the right match for herself.

It’s not often we come across a romantic comedy in theaters these days, especially when almost all of them are sent to a streaming service or a television channel.  When it does, I typically prefer to wait until I can watch it at home, with one recent example being “Anyone But You”.  Long story short, it was fine, though it’s not something I would go out of my way to watch again.  However, I do make a few exceptions for films that intrigue me or when the awards season arrives.  “Materialists” was no different, mainly due to the main leads involved.  I mean, who could resist a love triangle involving Madame Web, Captain America, and Mister Fantastic?  I was also curious about how up-and-coming filmmaker Celine Song would build up her streak that started with “Past Lives”.  I happened to watch that movie a while back, and it was an interesting experience that transcended what I usually see in conventional romantic comedies.  It did come off as a slow burn to me, but I did see the potential in Song’s approach to the genre.

Considering the storyline of “Materialists,” which revolves around a flawed love story, it was only fitting for Song to revisit this theme.  The question is: was her approach able to work the second time?  The answer is a resounding yes.  While familiar by design, “Materialists” navigates its established tropes to craft an insightful and genuinely authentic exploration of modern love and its inherent complexities.  Normally, I wouldn’t describe myself as someone who watches more romance films than others, particularly because they pretty much share the same path in their narrative arcs.  Whether played for laughs or to achieve melodramatic impact, the love stories presented in cinematic format are timeless, but they can also be derivative in their storytelling quality.  Nowadays, Netflix offers a vast selection of romance films for date night enthusiasts to choose from.  However, their concepts haven’t quite sparked much interest for me in their copy-and-paste narrative beats.  “Materialists” does seem like it would be nothing different from the pack regarding the “love triangle” formula.  However, I was completely surprised to see that it wasn’t the case, allowing it to stand out amidst the sea of cinematic romances.

The marketing for “Materialists” presents it as a seemingly ordinary romantic comedy about a woman struggling to find her “perfect man”, meaning that there’s room for some comical mishaps, right?  Well, not exactly.  While it had a few amusing moments, thanks to its shining main leads, the film is actually more of an authentic romance drama that takes a bite out of its genre conventions.  Amid the whole “love triangle” schtick the movie promised, the real heart of the story is its examination of modern relationships, particularly the intricacies of dating culture.  Whether through dating apps or matchmaking services, the pursuit of the right partner has become increasingly challenging, even dangerous, compared to earlier years, with one reason being the emphasis on personal preferences.  The film illustrates how people often relied on specific criteria when searching for their ideal mate, with one example being Lucy, whose own condition is to marry a wealthy person.  However, it also reveals that a partner who appears “perfect” based on these criteria may not always be who they claim to be, shedding light on the complex nature of love itself.

In a way, the film embraced the reality that love isn’t always easy to find, reminding audiences that there’s more to a perfect partner than just their shared interests and good looks.  Celine Song, with her insightful grasp of this social commentary, utilized her beliefs and craft formed in “Past Lives” to deliver a poignant and subtly charming examination of modern relationships and identity.  Song’s screenplay certainly had the makings of a love-triangle narrative that would end in a similar fashion as other rom-coms.  While that’s the case, it didn’t feel like a waste of time, as it weaved in clever and emotionally resonant moments that highlighted both the highs and lows of contemporary dating, mostly the lows.  By delving into the authenticity of a flawed dating system and the intricate nature of its characters, the film built upon familiar genre tropes and deconstructed them, achieving a level of insightful sincerity that felt refreshingly honest.  Song’s screenplay was also adept at utilizing the film’s well-known rom-com elements, ensuring they were written with enough charm and depth to justify the talents of the main leads.  Sure, the chemistry between the leads can often carry a rom-com, but it’s also crucial to have worthy material to complement that type of star power, not just the humor amid the lovey-dovey elements.

But what about her direction, you ask?  Does her vision of the realistic yet romanticized streets of New York complement her writing capabilities to be a perfect match?  Based on my sources, I would say that it’s a 100% match.  Song’s directorial style possesses a gentle soul in its simplistic presentation and tone, akin to a well-balanced glass of wine.  It’s not too sweet to the point of being disgustingly overbearing, but it’s also not too tart that’ll leave you feeling sour inside.  It’s about that certain balance between sweetness and sadness that makes a directorial vision age fine like wine, and Celine Song was able to nail that balance to deliver a drink worth consuming.  The pacing can be a bit slow during specific sequences due to the film’s runtime, but I didn’t find myself constantly bored by the story's progression.  

The cinematography, shot on 35mm film by Shabier Kirchner, added a layer of depth, offering a nostalgic yet modern reflection reminiscent of classic romance films.  This simple visual style effectively captured the essence of timeless love stories while grounding them in contemporary reality.  Additionally, the score by Daniel Pemberton contributed to the film’s atmosphere with its soothing, balanced tones that underscored the film’s grounded landscape.  It enhanced the glamorous charm and subtle soul of the characters and the busy streets of New York City, crafting an auditory experience that’s neither overwhelming nor dull but perfectly attuned to the film’s narrative and emotional core.

Another notable highlight was its remarkable cast, particularly the outstanding main leads.  It bears repeating that Dakota Johnson has come a long way in her career since her “Fifty Shades” days, as she’s continuing to prove her worth outside the divisive trilogy through her well-received outings.  Well, except for “Madame Web”, but she did the best she could from the lackluster script she was given.  Fortunately, her role in “Materialists” has reinforced her growing reputation, thanks to her sublime performance as Lucy.  She wonderfully conveyed the complex nature of Lucy’s seemingly simple desires as well as her subtle vulnerability, making her a flawed matchmaker worth caring for.  If you’re weary about Dakota Johnson’s acting capabilities based on the “Fifty Shades” movies, I think her performance in this film is another example that would help you change your tune about her.  

I would also say that Chris Evans has finally gained some ground in his career following his string of misses after the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Much like Johnson’s performance, Evans’ portrayal of John offered a delicate and heartwarming touch that’s impossible to resist, along with a sense of raw authenticity in his acting.  He imbued John with a warmth and sincerity that made his character both irresistible and human.  I might even say that this was one of the best performances, if not the best, I’ve seen from him besides Captain America.  Pedro Pascal also continued to deliver stellar results in his talents, particularly in his role as Harry Castillo, a financier whom Lucy met at a wedding.  With his ability to bring depth, charisma, and versatility into his characters, including Harry, Pascal has done more than enough to fuel my anticipation towards his take on Mister Fantastic in the upcoming “Fantastic 4” film.

Overall, “Materialists” has more than enough materials in its insightful themes and rom-com narrative to provide a perfect match for its genre fans.  It may not be as funny as the marketing suggested, and the pacing may test the patience of most viewers.  But, at its core, the film showcases how a modern love story should be done.  It’s authentic, honest, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and most of all, endearingly insightful for those navigating the dating business.  It’s also one of the few movies from the genre that speaks to my soul more than the other romantic films I watched, mainly because I, too, am having a difficult time finding my own “perfect match” in today’s world.  Someday, that time would come if I put enough effort into it.  Regarding its attractive, well-rounded main leads and Celine Song’s subtly tender and intellectually nuanced commentary on contemporary dating, the film is another love story worth falling head over heels for.  

A