| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Materialists |
| Director / Writer | Celine Song |
| Lead Cast | Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy-Drama |
| Runtime | 117 minutes |
| Setting | New York City, matchmaking / dating culture |
Story & Premise
Materialists follows Lucy, a successful matchmaker in New York, whose job is making people meet expectations for relationships that often hinge on wealth, appearance, status, and all the pressures of modern dating. She is also navigating her own romantic life: with her ex, John, who is less financially secure, and a wealthy suitor Harry. The film explores how love, value, and self-worth intersect — the tension between choosing someone who checks all material boxes vs. someone with whom there is more emotional depth.
What Works
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Strong Performances: The cast, especially Dakota Johnson, bring authenticity. Lucy’s internal conflict and vulnerability feel real. The interactions between the leads are often natural, grounded.
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Honest Themes: The film pulls no punches about how modern romance is shaped by capitalism—this pressure of appearance, income, social status is well explored. It tries to unpack consent, self-esteem, superficial judgments in relationships, which makes for scenes that feel timely.
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Dialogue & Emotional Moments: Many scenes are dialogue-driven, and while that means less “action”, the conversational moments are well-written. Some are witty, others quietly painful, and they often carry weight.
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Visual / Tonal Style: The film balances polish with intimacy. It isn’t overly glossy; it allows quieter moments to breathe, and doesn’t force constant drama. The setting and style support its themes.
What Doesn’t Work
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Predictability: Although it handles its themes well, some plot turns are foreseeable. You can often guess who Lucy will end up with and how key conflicts will be resolved.
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Pacing Issues: Because of the focus on dialogue and relationships, there are stretches where the movie slows down, and tension dips. It may feel slow for viewers wanting more overt romantic or dramatic payoffs.
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Emotional Distance: Some characters feel a bit distant or too polished—at moments, it’s hard to feel deeply invested. The more intense emotional arcs or vulnerable moments could have been stronger.
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Tonal Shifts / Subplots: A few subplots (for example, discussions around appearance, ageism, etc.) are interesting but sometimes feel like they distract from the main thread, or are under-explored.
Final Take
Materialists is not your typical rom-com. It uses romance to examine modern values, class, and how “material” expectations shape intimacy. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea — if you want light romantic comedy with big laughs and escapism, this may feel a bit serious. But if you like romance with reflection, subtle critique, and believable emotional work, this works well.
Rating: ~ 3.5 / 5