‘Materialists’ Movie Review: Johnson Shines In This Sharp, Realistic Commentary On Modern Day Dating And Expectations
Photo from SIFF
From Joe Peltzer
Celine Song broke hearts with 2023’s Oscar-nominated Past Lives, a directorial debut that resulted in the filmmaker’s arguably more marketable follow-up, Materialists, landing on the list of highly-anticipated releases. Materialists is essentially an anti-romcom, flush with sharp, subtle commentary on modern dating, eccentric demands, and the commodification of connection. Woven throughout is a poignant message about self-worth and the illusions we build to protect it. Anchored by strong performances, the film is emotionally grounded and quietly affecting, making it a natural spiritual relative to Past Lives, trading nostalgia for introspection in a world obsessed with image.
In the film, New York City matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) aims to find the perfect partner for all of her clients, balancing their unhinged expectations with the realities of the dating pool. She herself has high expectations that seem to be met by wealthy finance stud Harry (Pedro Pascal) after they cross paths at the wedding of one of her clients. A chance encounter with her ex John (Chris Evans), however, coupled with an incident with one of her clients, sends the seemingly buttoned-up professional into a spiral. What does Lucy truly value and what does she really need?
After anchoring the underwhelming misfire of Madame Web, Dakota Johnson rebounds in Materialists with an understated performance that reminds audiences of her unique strengths. Her character of Lucy’s muted deliveries and quiet confidence provide emotional layers to the character that are slowly revealed throughout the film. Johnson commands each scene with stillness and restraint, embodying a woman who has mastered emotional detachment and convinced herself of what she needs in a man (if any man at all), but slowly, believably, begins to unravel. It’s hard not to love Johnson’s work here.
Chris Evans is an absolute delight here, shedding his MCU skin and delivering a performance that’s far more relaxed, chill, and grounded than audiences might expect. Evans leans into a charming natural state, bringing real heart to the role of John, a struggling actor (who we are reminded is poor numerous times) who has nothing more than love and respect to author. It’s a welcome shift for the actor, with solid comedic timing and warmth, making him feel uber relatable. It’s a nice juxtaposition to Pedro Pascal’s Harry, the wealthy finance guy who seemingly has it all (maybe not all naturally…wink) and treats Lucy to fine dining while disarming her concerns, looking for love. Get ready for a scene set at a wedding that will absolutely crush you, followed by a solid monologue from Evans that will be remembered for quite a while.
Pascal may be everywhere these days, but in Materialists he proves once again that he can own any role. Here he displays a confident emotional depth mixed with an unexpected, but welcome vulnerability to a character that could’ve easily ended up villainous and annoying; quite the opposite. He balances suave confidence with a hint of melancholy, making Harry feel real, and giving the film a counterpoint to what Evans’ John has to offer.
Materialists is not your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, rather it almost is served as a take down of the ridiculous system of dating that we all fall prey to. Some may find the softened tone of the film off-putting, but it arguably is vital to the DNA of Song’s story here, remaining grounded and logical in its depiction of an often illogical process. Song is truly in a league of her own with how she breaks these topics down, here honing in on what we value in dating and ultimately, how we see (or don’t see) the value in ourselves. Materialists sticks the landing in that respect, thanks largely to the lived-in performances of its trio of seasoned vets. It’s another strong entry from Song who, at this point, is helping me understand my love life (and lack thereof) more than my therapist.
Rating: 4/5
Materialists hits theaters on Friday.
