Good news: Director Celine Song is back.
Bad news: After making my favorite film of 2023, she’s now made a rom-com. You had me at hell-no! For every Nora Ephron, Nancy Meyers or Richard Curtis meet cute that worked, there are hundreds of forgettable duds.
The director of Past Lives—that quiet gut-punch of a film about time, fate and choices—has followed her debut with a story about swiping right.
The Materialists plants us in a very Insta-friendly New York, where Dakota Johnson plays a high-end matchmaker who’s juggling two very different suitors (Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans).
Here, romance isn’t just roses and Meg Ryan karaoke —it’s ROI. Song explores the transactional side of modern love. There’s real bite in the script like an anxious bride nervously joking, “It’s not like my family needs a cow.” One other unique offering is I loved walking in not knowing which of the lead men would be the jerk in the end; I guessed wrong.
Most of the great rom-coms often ask us to conveniently dismiss our knowledge of life’s realities. Cameron Diaz and Jude Law meet up in an English cottage, c’mon.
The director of Past Lives—that quiet gut-punch of a film about time, fate and choices—has followed her debut with a story about swiping right.
The Materialists plants us in a very Insta-friendly New York, where Dakota Johnson plays a high-end matchmaker who’s juggling two very different suitors (Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans).
Here, romance isn’t just roses and Meg Ryan karaoke —it’s ROI. Song explores the transactional side of modern love. There’s real bite in the script like an anxious bride nervously joking, “It’s not like my family needs a cow.” One other unique offering is I loved walking in not knowing which of the lead men would be the jerk in the end; I guessed wrong.
Most of the great rom-coms often ask us to conveniently dismiss our knowledge of life’s realities. Cameron Diaz and Jude Law meet up in an English cottage, c’mon.
Song is caught between her desire to speak honestly about what it means to be an authentic woman working in the dating industry while balancing her own wishes and create a fun, funny film with real consequences dropped in.
The movie’s split personality shows. It wants to be sharp and insightful, but also swoony and fun. Sometimes it’s both and other times it feels like it’s ghosting its own premise.
Is it frustrating? Occasionally. Predictable? Yes. Sweet? Often. Perfect? Nope. But in a summer stuffed with bombastic IPs, The Materialists feels like a great date to swipe right to (and one with great music).
In a nutshell: Not great, but fascinating. It’s no Past Lives nor Bridget Jones, but hey—it’s definitely not Bride Wars.
Where to see it: In theaters starting June 13.
Would it be better with Olivia Colman? Absolutely.
Award potential: None. I suppose the comedy Golden Globes has some potential.
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks. This ones fine either in the theater or on the TV at home.
