‘Materialists’ review: A perfect rom-com to fall in love with
5/5 coke and beers
The art of the romantic comedy has been lost in recent years. We clearly want it back, we have seen recent success stories in the genre, and yet Materialists feels like a warm blanket consuming all us rom-com lovers.
The Celine Song film throws us into the romantic world of Manhattan. Allusive, expensive, and yet all consuming, the city is just as much part of Materialists as is John (Chris Evans), Harry (Pedro Pascal), and Lucy (Dakota Johnson). Lucy is a match maker who puts on an air of someone who has her life together but through Song’s brilliant script, we see just how flawed and messy Lucy really is.
Yes, a lot of Materialists is just as you’d think. Girl meets a rich man and also reconnects with her broke ex she still has feelings for. But whatever predictable moments you may think you know, Song’s film will find ways to surprise you. At every turn, I found myself moved to tears without knowing why or how I got there.
“When I look at you, I see wrinkles and gray hair and children who look like you” John says to Lucy, ushering in one of those romantic moments that I think will stay with me forever. And that’s what makes Materialists such a special film. It has all the beats you know and love from a romantic comedy and yet so much more.
An impossible choice
When the film was announced, so many said they’d easily pick Harry because he’s rich and Pedro Pascal. Fair. But I think everyone underestimated the appeal of the broken, messy man who loves and loves deeply. For me, it was never an easy choice and Song’s film doesn’t make it easy for Lucy either.
Even though John is a failed actor who still has roommates and no money, you can see why Lucy is still drawn to him. The same goes for Harry. He’s rich and handsome but he also knows how to woo a woman and watching as Lucy tries to figure out what her heart wants is incredibly moving to see.
But much like Song’s directorial debut, Past Lives, the key to Materialists isn’t figuring out who she ends up with or “winning” a ship war. It is about learning something of love. Whether it is something about yourself or just the idea of love itself, Materialists gives the hopeless romantic something to cling to. I felt it was too cheesy to say that it gives us “hope.”
The most beautiful of rom-coms
Song’s vision for her films uses sweeping one shots that captivate you and emotionally devastate you at the same time. Is there a shot of a Brooklyn apartment that has Lucy and one of her loves sitting outside? Did it instantly remind me of Past Lives and make me emotional? You’ll have to see Materialists for yourself and see.
But what I love about Song’s film is that it isn’t just a new romantic comedy. It is its own thing entirely. It is hopeful, romantic, emotional, dramatic, and beautiful. Materialists is a layered film that will make you think about these characters long after you’ve left the theater and I think that’s the beauty of a romance. You want to revisit the characters and watch them fall in love.
You will fall in love with Lucy and you will fall in love with Celine Song’s masterpiece as you watch Materialists. My only real critique is that I wish Chris Evans got to dance to “Sweet Caroline” at some point in this movie. Justice for Boston.
(featured image: A24)
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