Materialists – Is Love More Than Transactional?
By: Russ Matthews
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (OUT OF 5 STARS)
Celine Song entered the cinematic scene in 2023 with her captivating Academy Award-nominated pseudo-romance Past Lives. Her brilliantly told story of love lost over decades and cultures transcended time and languages. Her newest film has a tonal shift reminiscent of the Will Smith romantic comedy of the matchmaker, Hitch. Yet, from the opening credits to the introduction of Dakota Johnson’s (Daddio) character, audiences should know they are in store for something different.
Lucy (Johnson) works for the New York City-based matchmaking firm Adore, and she is one of the most successful relationship managers for a reason. She invests in her clients and genuinely hopes they meet the love of their lives. Yet, she doesn’t yearn for a personal connection for herself until the matchmaker meets the industry definition of a “unicorn” in the wealthy and handsome financier Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal). Though apprehensive about these relational ties, Lucy slowly determines whether they match. This decision is even more complicated as she happens upon John (Chris Evans), her former boyfriend, and she must decide what she is really looking for in love and life.
Despite feeling like the typical love triangle set-up that has defined romantic comedies throughout the ages, Celine Song has something else in store. The writer/director takes the romantic drama down paths that challenge the transactional side of relationships and challenge audiences to look beyond the material aspects of human connections. Dakota Johnson is perfectly cast as the jaded woman sceptical of actual emotional interaction. She is written with a guarded appeal that the central character embodies with convincing form. Yet, the script favours the male leads as they get the best dialogue and show how romance does not need to be solely owned by women. The artist within Song’s soul introduces some unnecessary artistic elements. Still, as an A24 production, she can’t help herself.
To be warned, Materialists is more of a romantic drama than a comedy and does dive deep into very real elements of the dating game and human contact. This film is a romance for grown-ups who yearn for depth in their story while not losing the romantic side of life not defined by grandiose weddings or living in a Manhattan penthouse. Celine Song offers something for those who hope to be entertained, wooed by beautiful people, and seek a reality in their stories that allows them to show what love can be for those seeking the right match.
Article supplied with thanks to City Bible Forum.
All images: Movie publicity
About the author: Russ Matthews is a film critic at City Bible Forum and Reel Dialogue. He has a passion for film and sparking spiritual conversations.
