Film review: ‘MATERIALISTS’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
Korean/ Canadian writer/director Celine Song seduced audiences with her subtle but heartbreaking story of inescapable childhood attachments and unrequited romance in her 2023 debut film Past Lives. Her first Hollywood film, Materialists, doesn’t quite deliver on the expectations Past Lives raised but still gives what could have been a standard romantic comedy/ drama a little more depth and class than the genre normally delivers.
Like Past Lives, Materialists explores a love triangle with a conflicted woman at the centre. In this case it’s professional match maker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) who, despite rigorously advising clients on their relationship choices, is desperately uncertain about her own. After years of weighing up potential matches for her clients, Lucy views human relationships as a kind of economic equation; how well does the potential match fit the client’s selection criteria of youth, attractiveness, height and wealth? This approach has shaped her relationships and years earlier led to a break up with former boyfriend, struggling actor John (Chris Evans). A new lover, the rich, dashing Harry (Pedro Pascal) seems to tick every box on the KPI list but Lucy’s coldly pragmatic view of the world is about to be challenged.
Past Lives was a very subtle, slow-burn film that used looks, well-chosen words and carefully placed silences to exert a powerful emotional undertow. Materialists is more conventional adding touches of melodrama as Lucy has to deal with a few personal traumas but it still takes its time unfurling its story which may test the patience of some audience members.
Materialists is mostly concerned with smart perceptive banter between the leads and is often more sophisticated, insightful and just a little darker than the average romantic comedy/ drama. In its best moments it recalls the Richard Linklater Before Midnight series. Occasionally, though, Song seems unsure whether to play a scene for comedy or drama and it falls awkwardly between the two.
Dakota Johnson copped a lot of flak for her performance in the lamentable 2024 superhero flick Madame Web but she’s much more assured here and reminds us that she can anchor a mature film. Johnson manages to give Lucy a contrasting but (mostly) believable mix of qualities such as mercenary career mindedness but also warmth and charm. Pedro Pascal brings his usual class to the role as Harry but given his Hansel-like ‘so hot right now status’ this limited Sex and the City-esque role doesn’t feel right for him. Chris Evans brings an appealing energy to the character of John even though, the decent, down-to-earth poor guy is a pretty clichéd role.
Materialists doesn’t deliver anything revelatory about human relationships or as a piece of cinematic art but through some thoughtful writing it elevates the romance movie to something close to a meaningful drama.
Nick’s rating: ***
Genre: Drama/ Romance.
Classification: M.
Director(s): Celine Song.
Release date: 27th May 2025.
Running time: 117 mins.
Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.
Related Posts:
- Film review: ‘PAST LIVES’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
- Film review: ‘CHALLENGERS’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
- Film review: NEW YEARS EVE from Built for Speed
- Film review: THE SKELETON TWINS, from Built For Speed
- Film review: ‘THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT’, by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’