Materialists is a 2025 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Celine Song. It is the Canadian playwright’s second feature as director, following her critically acclaimed debut Past Lives in 2023. Whilst that film was shown at both the Sundance and Berlin International Festivals prior to release, Materialists went straight to theatrical release in the United States on 13 June and internationally, including in the UK, on 16 August. This may be significant as it did feel more of a commercial offering than arthouse.

Successful matchmaker Lucy Mason (Dakota Johnson) works at matchmaking company ‘Adore’ in New York. Whilst she sets her clients up with their perfect matches, and already has nine weddings under her belt, she maintains she will either die alone or marry someone exceptionally wealthy. At her latest wedding ceremony she is hit on by the groom’s brother Harry (Pedro Pascal) who ticks all her boxes when it comes to wealth and good looks (see below). Her struggling-actor ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans) just happens to be temping as a waiter at the wedding. And so the tables are set (see what I did there) for a classic rom-com – she must decide between the rich and successful new guy and the true love from her past, who is poor as a church mouse. Sort of.

I had some real problems with this. It is a satire on the modern digital dating scene – I get that. And so it is all about value (as opposed to values) and ticking boxes and perfect matches and so on. So the people are all shallow, one-dimensional, and not particularly likeable, making it difficult for me to get involved in their stories. So I was bored. To be fair, as a character she is aware that she is shallow, however that does not ring true: in my experience shallow people are the last to be aware of their shallowness. In the Harry Vs John playoff, I was rooting for John, the old flame, because I thought he was less plastic. Then he made an impassioned speech which, for me, completely blew away his credibility as a character.

This was not my only problem. Secondly, I am informed by my fellow cinemagoer that Pedro Pascal is the latest international heartthrob – so can someone tells me why he has a 1970s gay-porn-star moustache?

And my biggest problem? I absolutely loved Past Lives. It was beautifully written, beautifully realised and had interesting characters that one truly became involved with and cared about. So I had high expectations which were simply not satisfied by Materialists. However, everyone is allowed a mistake, so rest assured I will be at the front of the queue when Song’s next film is ready for release, providing she has lifted the restraining order which will no doubt follow this review!