Materialists Review: A Skeptical Romantic Comedy Lacking Essential Elements

      Materialists is a film that employs a traditional screwball premise: a young and attractive matchmaker encounters her ideal charming, wealthy man on the same night she bumps into her broke yet handsome ex-boyfriend. However, Celine Song’s second feature adopts a more understated, dramatic tone to examine modern dating. Drawing inspiration from Jane Austen, Materialists presents relationships as a numbers game where height, income, and age are pivotal to dating success. Throughout our time with the protagonist Lucy (Dakota Johnson), we witness a focus on the most clinical evaluations of men, women, and particularly of herself. When she goes to dinner with the affluent financier Harry (Pedro Pascal), Lucy describes herself as a failed actress and college dropout burdened with debt and an $80K salary (before taxes). Why would he choose her when he could date someone ten years younger who doesn't need to work and has significantly more opportunity to start a family? This mentality isn’t solely hers; nearly every character shares her perspective, viewing men as commodities while women must strive for them, with their worth diminishing each day. Being single feels like a curse for women, particularly as they approach thirty.

      Lucy's quest for love isn't for herself; she’s focused on her latest client, Sophie (Zoë Winters), who is repeatedly turned down on dates. As frustration builds, Lucy also has to contend with her ex-boyfriend, John (Chris Evans), who perceives her relationship with Harry progressing and is reluctant to let her go again. However, John is a struggling actor, living with multiple roommates, and has only $2,000 to his name. While he’s attractive, politically progressive, and a good listener, in the world of Materialists, those qualities aren't enough to make him desirable. In this cynical landscape, well-meaning individuals like Sophie and John find themselves at the bottom of the dating hierarchy. While Lucy isn’t viewed as much higher, her expertise as a matchmaker provides her with a semblance of romantic authority.

      Song’s screenplay draws parallels between Lucy and Austen's heroines such as Elizabeth Bennet and Anne Elliot—the latter portrayed by Johnson in 2022’s Persuasion—but there’s an element of disconnect in the character. Johnson performs well, navigating dialogue that often feels more self-deprecating than wise. She contributes a lighthearted humor to every scene, challenging her co-stars to rise to her level. Pascal excels in keeping up with her as Harry, embodying charm and vulnerability, while Evans struggles somewhat as John, awkwardly fitting into the role of the romantic lead. The chemistry we expect between Evans and Johnson doesn't quite materialize; instead, there's a noticeable distance. Johnson’s more grounded performance is never fully complemented by Evans' lovesick speeches.

      Aside from one particularly humorous moment in the film's latter third, Materialists is a romantic comedy that surprisingly lacks much humor, confusing cruelty with incisive social commentary. It’s true that many individuals are superficial and have unrealistic standards for potential partners. Many exhibit selfishness, abusiveness, judgment, and class bias, and there’s a certain honesty in revealing the harsher aspects of dating within a romantic comedy. However, the film is still accountable for creating an environment and characters that are enjoyable to engage with. Lucy is a captivating central figure, but it’s difficult to envision audiences holding fond memories of John or Harry in the same way they do of characters like Darcy or Wentworth. Authors like Austen, Edith Wharton, and Henry James developed such rich worlds that filmmakers eagerly adapted their works. Despite the societal constraints faced by their heroines, these stories possess a unique quality that leaves us feeling both touched and entertained. Yet, whatever that quality is, Materialists seems to lack.

      Materialists is currently showing in theaters.