Materialists: A Romantic Drama That Dares to Ask What Love Really Costs
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Celine Song, acclaimed for her Oscar-nominated Past Lives, returns with a deeply personal and thought-provoking film that questions the intersection of love, lifestyle, and financial security. Her latest feature, Materialists, is more than just another glossy romantic triangle—it’s a clever, emotionally intelligent, and sharply modern romantic drama that redefines what it means to love in a material world.
Starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, the film unfolds not as a traditional romcom, but as a nuanced narrative that cuts through fantasy and dives into real emotional stakes.
A Plot That Reflects Real Choices
Johnson plays Lucy, a successful high-end matchmaker in New York, whose profession mirrors her own life dilemma. When she’s reintroduced to her former flame, John (Evans)—a struggling actor—and simultaneously meets the affluent and suave Henry (Pascal), her heart and head begin an internal tug-of-war.
Is love enough without financial security? Can emotional compatibility compete with a life of ease and luxury?
Song brings raw honesty to this conflict, weaving in personal experience—she herself once worked as a matchmaker—and a director’s insight that strips back romantic fantasy in favor of emotional truth.
Authentic Performances and Clever Direction
Dakota Johnson shines as Lucy, portraying a woman who’s unapologetically clear about what she wants from life. Her portrayal never feels cold or materialistic—instead, she’s refreshingly honest, relatable, and at times, heartbreakingly self-aware.
Chris Evans brings warmth and vulnerability to John, clearly still haunted by the breakup. His chemistry with Johnson adds emotional weight to their shared past. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal’s Henry is charming and measured—a man of wealth who’s far more than just a financial fantasy. He listens, understands, and offers Lucy the kind of stability she now craves.
What’s clever is that Song never paints either man as the obvious “right” choice. Instead, she lets the audience sit with the uncertainty—highlighting that love is rarely about neat resolutions.
A Cinematic Commentary on Modern Romance
Like in Past Lives, Song infuses Materialists with rich dialogue, poetic moments, and layered backdrops—New York streets buzzing with real life, intimate weddings, and sharp conversations about expectations in relationships.
Song also injects humor, particularly in Lucy’s client interactions: absurd demands about height, hair, and net worth echo dating culture’s superficial extremes. But Materialists doesn’t lean too hard into satire—it stays grounded, even as one subplot takes a shocking turn with a client’s date turning violent. This moment is jarring, but it’s intentional—reminding us that love, especially in modern settings, often comes with real risks.
An Ending That Earns Its Hope
The film closes on a note of cautious optimism. At another wedding, Lucy dances to That’s All, a classic love song promising nothing but enduring love. It’s a poignant moment—one that questions if such love can truly exist when weighed against societal pressures and economic realities.
Rather than giving us a neatly wrapped love story, Materialists offers something far more valuable: a sincere exploration of how we negotiate our desires, vulnerabilities, and values in the pursuit of lasting connection.
Final Thoughts
Materialists is not just a romantic drama—it’s a sharp, timely reflection on how love operates in a world that often measures worth in net figures. Celine Song proves once again that she’s one of the most insightful storytellers of our time, unafraid to ask the difficult questions.
If you’re looking for a film that’s emotionally rich, beautifully acted, and challenges the conventions of love stories, Materialists is essential viewing.
Release Dates:
- US Cinemas: June 13
- UK Cinemas: August 15
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