Celine Song is no one-trick pony. After the flawless Past Lives, many might think, ‘how do you follow up such perfection?’ Well, she answers that question with another beautifully written human drama filled with witty repartee.

Materialists revolves around Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a driven matchmaker in NYC who’s so skilled at what she does that she’s helped create 9 successful marriages to date. She’s more focused on the love lives of others than her own, until one unforgettable night at a wedding for one of her clients, when she encounters a unicorn named Harry (Pedro Pascal). That is, a romantic partner with exceptional qualities that are hard to come by. On that very night, she also bumps into her not-so-perfect ex, an actor-waiter John (Chris Evans), whom she still hasn’t fully moved on from.

I learned via interviews that Song had worked as a matchmaker for six months in New York City to help fund her writing career. It’s fascinating to see her personal take on this unusual job, which adds a captivating twist to a modern romance story. Johnson embodies Lucy perfectly; from the moment she steps into her workplace, scouting for potential clients on the bustling streets of Manhattan, she exudes confidence and independence, laser-focused on her career. She tackles dating and marriage with a strategic, no-nonsense approach, looking for individuals who ‘tick the boxes’ for her persnickety and demanding clients. Her role also has a therapeutic aspect, complete with clever manipulation techniques, as Lucy effortlessly assists a bride in overcoming her jitters.

Some of the most hilarious bits are the matchmaking interviews between Lucy and her very-entitled and unrealistic clients, some goes to her with a 3-page laundry list of demands for a match, while a guy in his late 30s specifically asks only to be matched with a girl no older than 27 (who does he think he is? Leo DiCaprio?!). “Dating is hard. Love is easy.” Lucy argues, though she discovers perhaps love isn’t so easy after all. At some stage in life, we too find ourselves caught between opting for financial security and the pursuit of a soulmate. Seeing how these Gen Z folks and Millennials handle the cutthroat dating world makes me really thankful that my dating days are long behind me.

Song’s witty dialogue is music to my ears, every line has a nice zinger that sometimes makes me go Chandler Bing-like ‘ba da bing!’ Being a playwright makes her suitable for crafting dialogue-heavy scenes. I heard someone say that Song is like one of my all-time favorites, Nora Ephron, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at that idea. Ephron is famous for her sharp humor, relatable characters, and knack for portraying the subtleties of human connections. But after seeing the film, I have to admit that comparison isn’t completely off base.

Ephron’s characters are often imperfect and unfiltered. I think Song’s key characters from her two films embody this trait. Lucy is brutally honest; she asks her date questions that most women wouldn’t even think of asking, even though they’re likely dying to find out. How much does he/she earn? Is he/she secretly married with kids? Does he/she use drugs?

This is the kind of film I wouldn’t mind watching again, as the scenes between Johnson and Pascal are delightfully playful. I heard that Evans was cast initially, and the casting team must have been thinking, ‘Who could convince women that Lucy would pick this guy over Captain America?’ before they gave the role to the charismatic Chilean-born internet boyfriend. Pascal dialed up his charm to off-the-charts level as a private equity partner who owns a ginormous Manhattan penthouse and can take Lucy to Michelin-level restaurants practically every night.

Meanwhile, John still shares a crappy apartment with two of his roommates and has to work catering jobs to fund his theater-acting passion. Honestly, the stipend he got for his last play is probably just what Harry spends on one dinner out. Evans is quite believable as a down-on-his-luck, hopeless romantic; he’s got those puppy-dog eyes he puts to good use. The contrast between these two men seems astronomical in terms of dollar amount, but the human heart doesn’t function like a calculator. Both Pascal and Evans get to display their vulnerable side here, leaving viewers just as deeply torn as Lucy.

If I had one quibble, it’d be regarding Lucy’s lack of character development. She remains an enigma throughout the whole film, so Lucy’s journey doesn’t hit me as emotionally as Nora’s in Past Lives. I’m not asking for a detailed backstory, but I’d love to understand what really motivates her. That said, Lucy is easily my favorite role of Johnson’s I’ve seen so far (though I haven’t quite forgiven her for ruining my favorite Jane Austen’s character in this ghastly Netflix adaptation)

This movie treads delicately between a sharp satire and swoon-worthy romance, set against the vibrant backdrop of NYC, a city famous for its diverse and dynamic relationships. This is such a good-looking movie it practically sparkles, and I’m not just talking about the cast. Love the stunning cinematography and interesting camera work by Shabier Kirchner, who also worked on Past Lives. Daniel Pemberton’s gorgeous score enhances the dreamy vibe even more.

I’d love to see more romantic films like this with mature, thought-provoking themes without the overly sexual content. With this movie, Song has cemented herself to be one of my favorite writer/directors. I’ve praised Song’s acerbic wit, but I also appreciate the quieter scenes where her characters communicate without a word is spoken. Materialists leaves us with plenty of food for thought by the end, way more than most rom-coms or romantic dramas I’ve watched in the past decade. 

Have you seen MATERIALISTS? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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