Materialists Review: Dakota Johnson & Pedro Pascal Shine in Touching Rom-Com
Many have hailed Materialists as a return to the rom-coms of the 90s and 2000s. I wouldn’t go that far, since Celine Song’s new movie is much more rom than com, but it does serve quite a powerful punch. The Oscar-nominated writer and director of the 2023 film Past Lives returns for another love triangle of sorts set in the beating heart of New York City. Her cast this time around? Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. It’s great to see Madame Web, Mr. Fantastic, and Captain America here for a very human story distributed by A24, and it’s even better to see them putting their all into a movie that manages to be heartbreaking, touching, and beautiful all at once.
Materialists is warm soup for the soul. A lovely slice-of-life story that also manages to rip your heart out at times. Achingly relatable characters mixed perfectly with the charms of the genre. One of my favorite ideas in this film is that our protagonist, Lucy (Johnson), is a professional matchmaker. This is such an absurd job, and it’s perfect for this genre. There’s an irony in a person whose job it is to bring people together who can’t find a date for herself. Her single clients have expressed a belief that they will die alone, a sentiment that she must talk them out of, despite believing it in herself.
Lucy has just brought together her ninth married couple. At the wedding, the groom’s brother Harry (Pascal) takes a seat next to Lucy. As he flirts, they are served by a caterer named John (Evans), whom Lucy instantly recognizes. On one night, Lucy finds herself with the rich, handsome man of her dreams, and the one that got away. Grappling with her past and what she wants in life, Lucy finds herself at a crossroads. It’s your classic story about a woman having to choose between a rich man and a poor man. We’ve seen elements of this tale as old as time in The Notebook, Sweet Home Alabama, Made of Honor, and more. Hell, it’s a surprise Patrick Dempsey isn’t in this movie.
That’s not to say this movie isn’t cast well. I’m sure many would be happy to be single at a wedding when in walks Pedro Pascal in a dashing suit. Lucy describes Harry as a “unicorn,” a man who’s tall, rich, good-looking, and everything a woman would want. From her perspective, Harry is a man so perfect that knowing men like him exist is enough to keep women from lowering their standards in the hopes that they’ll one day find their “unicorn.” Pascal is the right man for the role. He’s omnipresent these days, from his recent appearances in Freaky Tales and The Last of Us to his imminent roles in Eddington and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and his talent makes him a welcome presence on any screen.
Evans turns in some of his best work in years. His recent work in films like The Gray Man, Ghosted, Pain Hustlers, and Red One has failed to impress, but this is finally his return to a more grounded character. Give him a good script and he can shine. Evans’s portrayal is reminiscent of his work in the 2014 film he directed and starred in, Before We Go. John is a likable, sensitive person trying his best while he’s got a lot on his plate, and he shows again that he can play anyone from the roughest a-holes to the sweetest guys. We also have to be convinced that one of the biggest movie stars in the world is a poor, struggling actor. Somehow, he makes it work.
Of the three leads, Johnson is the actor with the least consistent performances over the past few years. She can turn in solid work in films like The Peanut Butter Falcon and Daddio, but she needs to have the right material. Here, she manages to sell many of her scenes, particularly the sadder ones. There’s a subplot in Materialists surrounding one of her clients who goes on a date that takes a turn for the worse. Her guilt feels crushing, and Johnson sells every bit of it. It’s the comedy where Johnson falls short from time to time. She’s not the most naturally gifted comedic performer, so when the movie has its more humorous moments, it feels as if she’s executing them to a merely acceptable standard, rather than one that elevates the material.
Song does a wonderful job here. The writing and editing superbly juxtapose the two men. Harry has a luxury apartment in Soho, while John lives in a small apartment with two roommates. Harry goes to expensive restaurants; John goes to halal carts. It’s a no-brainer which lifestyle Lucy prefers, but the choice she must make between them is a bit more complicated. We’ve already seen many of the ideas here, so it’s not the most novel premise, but there is a very nuanced, human approach to this story that allows you to stay guessing about who she will choose. Ultimately, Lucy must face her relationship with herself and her insecurities. Does she feel good enough for a relationship with Harry? Can she allow herself to be in a relationship with John, given his lifestyle?
Materialists manages to be heartbreaking at times. It’s a movie filled with aching themes of love and regret. It’s about finding the person who checks all your boxes and the slight absurdity of turning dating into a math or a science. The characters are all fascinating to watch. Even though Harry’s character leaves a bit to be desired, since he spends the majority of the film as the ridiculously perfect man, we really care about everyone’s relationships with each other. Audiences will be able to see themselves in these characters, and it’s quite nice to see these people and all of their flaws. Plus, it’s always great when a film set in New York City is actually filmed in NYC (take that, Karate Kid: Legends).
SCORE: 7/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Materialists review.
Source: Comingsoon.net