Title: Materialists
MPA Rating: R
Director: Celine Song
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

What It Is: Lucy (Johnson) is a successful matchmaker working in New York City. She’s used to pairing people up and seeing it lead to marriage at a pretty high rate. But when the handsome and wealthy Harry (Pascal) sets his sights on Lucy, she has no idea how to handle it. Things only get more complicated when her old flame John (Evans) reenters her life, making her fling with Harry that much harder to navigate. After all, how does a woman say no to a man with a million-dollar apartment—especially when the alternative is a struggling (and I do mean struggling) stage actor?

What We Think: Celine Song is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite directors. Her previous film, Past Lives, was hands down my favorite film of 2023 and is destined to become a classic. Here, she once again explores the intricacies of relationships—rekindling an old one while navigating something unfamiliar and new for Lucy. The way she handles those dynamics through her script and direction is simply beautiful. Dakota Johnson gives this performance everything she has, and the results are phenomenal. Pedro Pascal is as charming as ever, and it’s not hard to see why Lucy would be smitten with him. Evans’ character is such a stark contrast to Harry, and that juxtaposition works perfectly, offering real insight into how women think about relationships. Written by a woman, the film feels all the more authentic—and, I’d argue, more realistic.

Our Grade: B+, Romance in cinema is far from dead, and this film proves it. I don’t know what’s going on in Celine Song’s marriage…but as an audience member, I’m thankful if these are the results. Two for two, and I’m excited for whatever she does next. Check this one out immediately—it’s such a charming little film.