Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a hardworking matchmaker in New York who has accomplished 9 weddings. Every day, Lucy has to deal with clients giving an unrealistic checklist for their ideal partner. She has to consider the client’s income, lifestyle, height, age, weight, and family history. Lucy is unexpectedly caught in a love triangle between Harry (Pedro Pascal) and John (Chris Evans) after they both approach her during her client’s wedding. Harry is the groom’s brother, a wealthy man working in private equity and living in a $12 million apartment—a unicorn in Lucy’s industry. John is an ex-boyfriend. A cater-waiter still looking for a stable career in acting and living with roommates.
Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song generated a lot of buzz with her second film, Materialists, since her debut film, Past Lives, is critically acclaimed. The star-studded cast and the romantic comedy genre had audiences excited after the trailer was released. There have not been many romantic comedies made in the past decade. Celine Song uses her own experience working as a matchmaker in New York City to create a relevant film about the reality of love and relationships. Celine Song took inspiration from classic romantic comedies such as The Apartment, When Harry Met Sally…, and Broadcast News, to create a modern romantic comedy for viewers surrounded by countless dating apps and websites.
The thought and care put into the film is shown in its simplicity. All three characters wear simple clothing despite their differences in income. Lucy has a classic and sleek wardrobe with muted colours to display that she is an ambitious and confident city woman. Yet, when her heart opens, her wardrobe expands to colourful clothing with floral prints. Harry’s sharp business casual outfits emphasize his wealth. John always arrives in scruffy, carefree and casual outfits. When Lucy and John reunite outside the wedding, he relaxes with a loose collar and an untucked shirt.
The chemistry is lacking between everyone in the love triangle. The charm of Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal is not enough to have an audience interested in their romance with the limited history of their relationships shown. Harry and John do not show their interests or personality outside of their relationship with Lucy. Romantic comedies thrive off the characters’ love story, which the audience barely sees.
The film begins with how people commodify themselves to find their significant others. However, the second half focuses on Lucy’s relationship between her heart, John, and her mind, Harry. Lucy’s relationship with both John and Harry seems surface-level since the reason why Lucy cares for either man is not given.
The cinematography is distinctive with its use of camera shots. The beautiful camera shots with the dim lighting allow audiences to focus on the characters and their emotions. The several close-up shots during the conversations between the characters create a private and emotional energy not usually found in romance movies. The lighting and camera shots allow the audience to feel as if they are in the same environment as the characters and in the film themselves.
Materialists is a new take on the genre of romantic comedy. However, the lack of chemistry and emotional depth between the characters causes the movie to fizzle out in the middle. Celine Song attempts to create a heart-fluttering romance with old-school tropes to remind the audience of the significant reason for romance and dating: the heart.
Materialists is now available in select Cineplex theatres.