Materialists Is Not Really A Rom-Com

Conventional rom-com glitz and glamour is the hook, but this is really a drama about the artificiality of modern dating.

Celine Song uses conventional rom-com glitz and glamour as a hook and then proceeds to deliver one of the most authentically human stories of the year. Materialists examines the artificiality of modern dating in an increasingly shallow world. It is not without some quirky fluff and stale humor, but there is a rare sense of realism in Song's depiction of contemporary relationships that I believe many people will find solace in.

This is not a genre-defining film like Song’s 2023 directorial debut, Past Lives, but Materialists still feels very human. Its biggest flaw is that it is marketed and structured as a romantic-comedy when in reality it just isn’t. The little humor that is present is not very funny and despite what the trailer and poster may lead you to believe, there is no love triangle or juicy spats between the male leads.

When you approach Materialists for what it truly is - a romantic drama - I think it is easier to appreciate the message and purpose behind Song’s sophomore film.

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This is Celine Song Coded For Better or Worse

Dakota Johnson plays a professional matchmaker, named Lucy, who depersonalizes people to their superficial traits, such as height, weight, race, and salary in an attempt to find suitable matches for her clients. The film uses her character to drive a commentary about modern relationships and how dating apps and social media have created a cold, cruel over-analytical approach to courtship.

The beginning of the film depicts a Paleolithic couple who we eventually learn represent the very first people to get engaged. This couple is a constant callback throughout the story and serves as a metaphorical reminder that love, at its very core, may be the one thing that has not advanced with the rest of society. Song suggests that modern romance is far more complicated now than it ever has been with the introduction of dating services and apps.

Materialists modernizes classic stories about class and social dynamics, such as Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice, and blends that together with today’s almost formulaic approach to dating that often discourages real connection.

By the third act, the shine and polish you’d expect from a traditional rom-com is substituted for an imperfect yet authentic resolution that most films of this genre would avoid out of fear from deviating from the norm. If you expected run of the mill romance and comedy, you may walk home disappointed, but I think there is no denying that this is a story rooted in something many people will find touching.

Too Much Fluff, Not Enough Chris and Pedro

My biggest gripe with the film is its mismanagement of its three stars. You have some of the most charismatic actors of this generation in Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal yet the three them get very little screen time as a trio. One of the men is always coming or going and in the small scenes when they are together, there is no real vibrance to the moment.

The result is a finished product that feels stagnant and lacking in chemistry. The themes and undertones I discussed above are interesting, but they lack emphasis as a result of the structure.

I don’t think the performances were poor and I even found each character’s flaws rather interesting, but there was an unrealized layer of depth that I can’t stop thinking about. Had they given us more love triangle and less of the repetitive, dull matchmaking and workplace drama, I think the leads would have come across as much more relatable.

This leaves me frustrated because I greatly appreciate Song’s messaging and willingness to divert from the exhausted rom-com blueprint. However, the characters are just not that compelling on their own. Ironically, I’m now convinced that the departure from traditional comedy hurts Materialists rather than helps it. If there was a better balance for both elements, I think this would be a far more positive discussion.

Final Thoughts

Materialists is a relatable story with a relatable message that suffers from rather unrelatable characters. There is a endearing and personal touch to its truthful commentary on modern dating that would better excel with improved writing and depth for its leads. I appreciate Celine Song’s willingness to push the limits of the rom-com genre and her commitment to telling authentically modern love stories. I cannot wait to see what she does next.

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What I am watching, listening, reading, and playing this week.

Hidden Figures

Despite director Theodore Melfi's obsession with some rather cliché moments that we know twist the truth, Hidden Figures is very moving. I am not sure you could cast a more talented, charismatic trio than Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. I loved every second of this. Iconic.

Adolescence

A truly thought-provoking experience. There is nothing else on TV like it. You will get to witness some of the best acting and cinematography ever put on screen.

GNX

Since his Super Bowl halftime performance, I haven’t been able to get enough of Kendrick Lamar’s GNX. It is an album that listens like a story with a tremendous amount of symbolism and meaning.

Sunrise on the Reaping

The Hunger Games prequel about my favorite character Haymitch has been a very fun read. I do not think this is nearly as good as the original books, but fans of the series will enjoy this and all its callbacks. The upcoming film has great potential considering The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a better film than read!

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

The best Indiana Jones story of the last few decades comes in video game form. The Great Circle features a captivating story full of the same emotion and action the original Indiana Jones films executed so well. I have been loving this single-player experience!

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