Ah, Materialists — is it the existential rom com we deserved?
Materialists is the cinematic equivalent of being handed a designer handbag only to find it’s completely empty inside. Starring the ever-charismatic Pedro Pascal (bless him, he really tried) and the talented Dakota Johnson, this film wants to be a profound story about love, status, and emotional authenticity. Undoubtedly Celine Song wanted to create the ultimate genre defining rom com. Unfortunately, Materialists ends up being a two-hour perfume commercial with delusions of depth. 🎀
1. Let us see what Materialists was all about? *Spoiler Alert 🚨
Lucy Mason (D. Johnson), a cynical yet successful NYC matchmaker, avoids love while helping others find it and claims to search for someone “very very rich”. After starting a relationship with charming financier Harry Castillo (P. Pascal), her world is shaken when a client sues her company over a dangerous match. As her career falters, Lucy reconnects with her ex, struggling actor/waiter John Finch (C. Evans) 💘
Realizing her relationship with Harry lacks true love, Lucy ends it. 💔 She reconciles with the not so rich John, and they get engaged. Lucy is offered a promotion at work, but finally begins to embrace the messy, imperfect nature of love.
2. Let’s address the elephant in the velvet-draped room: the love story.
Or, more accurately, the vague suggestion of a love story, buried somewhere beneath layers of whispered monologues generalizing modern men and women, and plot holes you could drive a luxury SUV through. Celine Song sets up an image of modern society viewing relationships and marriage as business deals by pushing the True love happy end as a contrast.
The thing is – I did not believe in the main love storyline between the cold materialist matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) and the poor waiter/actor (Chris Evans). This love reveal did not have enough roots to be convincing and felt like a tiring cliché. (As cliché as being actor / waiter can offer.)
Pedro Pascal’s storyline on the other hand was far more promising. Sadly, it ended up rushed and interrupted in the most interesting part, therefore remained like a “need to” obstacle for the big, yet unconvincing love to flourish.
3. In conclusion: Materialists tries to tell us a story about love in a cold materialist world.
Unfortunately, the world is not that cold, and the love feels like prematurely taken from the microwave..
