Celine Song’s Materialists glitters with sleek cinematography and star power—but beneath the polish lies a deceptively sharp critique of romance-as-commerce. Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a high-end NYC matchmaker whose days are spent comparing partners like stock investments—and doubting whether love can be quantified .
Once herself an “eternal bachelorette,” Lucy has climbed from failed actress to a well-paid professional, perfectly summarised when her colleague says she’ll either die alone or marry rich . By day she crafts love matches; by night she questions her own soul: are these unions built on compatibility, or just ticked boxes and bank balances?
💔 Love in Three Currencies
- Lucy + Harry (Pedro Pascal): The polished millionaire client-turned-romantic lead, oozing luxury—and literal new height via tibial surgery—to fit her checklist. Pascal provides charm throughout, yet the sheen of wealth feels transactional rather than intimate.
- Lucy + John (Chris Evans): Her financially struggling, ex-actor beau. He represents authenticity and emotional chemistry—but their chemistry feels more underlit than electric
⚠️ Performances & Chemistry
Johnson delivers Lucy’s cynicism with cool precision, portraying someone who’s clearly questioning her own emotional currency—but critics argue she veers too clinical Evans seems adrift in the role of the struggling ex, and while Pascal sparkles, even his sophistication can’t ignite real romantic tension
📉 Thematic Sharpness vs. Narrative Weight
An unusual opening with a prehistoric “first marriage” sets an ambitious tone, but the narrative devolves into familiar rom-com tropes: makeover montages, love triangles, pointed table meetings. Critics praise Song’s intelligent exploration of value and love—but some feel the film’s high-minded critique loses momentum and emotional payoff in the back half.
🧭 Inside the Matchmaking Industry
Real-world matchmakers have been outspoken. Beth Mandell, Maria Avgitidis, and others say the film gets the pressure and commercialization of matchmaking right—but deride its hollow, box‑ticking portrait of relationships. One even admitted mistaking it for satire given its exaggerated cynicism.
⭐ Final Verdict
Yes, the leads are talented and the production sumptuous. But while Materialists dazzles visually and stirs intriguing questions about value, authenticity, and modern love, its emotional core often feels calculated rather than felt.
Ideal for viewers who enjoy intelligent, visually rich romantic dramas with bite.
Just once viewing recommended—if only to reflect on what we truly value in love: chemistry or checklists.
