You probably know that I wasn’t too happy when we found out that ‘Materialists’ would be released in August in the UK but early June in the US. I felt like it was unfair to wait so long but after finally seeing it in the cinema all I can say is that I’m glad I got to see it on the big screen.

By now, after all the different releases around the world you probably know about the plot or you might have seen at one point some interviews, the press coverage or maybe some spoilers too. This review contains spoilers, so if you haven’t watched it yet this is your sign to stop reading. As you probably know the film follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson) a successful New Yorker who at a glance seems to have everything figured out as she has a good job, a great lifestyle and her life looks like a dream many of us would love to get to one day. As the story develops we discover that Lucy is stuck in a love triangle between two very different men John (Chris Evans) and Harry (Pedro Pascal) while she navigates helping her clients find ‘the one’.

When I first saw the trailer and read the synopsis like many of you it felt like a classic rom-com that had a love triangle, uncertainty and humour. However, I believe that ‘Materialists’ is so much more than just a rom-com. To me, it is a romance film there is no doubt about it but it is also not afraid to show and touch on difficult, painful and human aspects of love in today’s society.

What I personally loved is how Céline Song (if you haven’t already this is your sign to watch ‘Past Lives’) adds layers and depth to her characters. For example at first glance Lucy seems to have made it as she has a career in a city that many people only dream about, she has a social circle most people can’t reach and a life that many people would wish for. But as the movie progresses Céline strips away the perfect facade that surrounds Lucy and her life revealing what it really means to love, live and survive.

Now let’s talk about the love triangle. I can’t be the only one that watched the trailer and didn’t think that Lucy would choose John over Harry. I mean how could she? Harry has wealth, charm, power , a $12 million apartment, plans incredible dates and grand gestures (those flowers were absolutely stunning). It seemed like an easy and obvious choice Lucy had to make. But as the movie progressed I actually found myself rooting for John. Why? Well Harry sees his relationship with Lucy as an investment saying ‘I want to be with you for your intangible assets. Those are good assets. They don’t degrade. They only get sharper.’ While Harry looks for more than appearances when he gets to know Lucy he still sees his relationship with her as an investment, a deal , a partnership but not love. Don’t get me wrong maybe there are people out there who are looking, want or are happy with this. This is in no way a judgment of what happiness looks like for everyone but for me this made the difference between the two. John actually sees Lucy. He notices when Lucy pretends she is fine but is not. He remembers her drink. He drops literally everything to be there for her when she calls. He loves her even knowing all her flaws. When John says ‘You asked how could I love you. I just do. It’s the easiest thing.’ it adds to how simple love should be. Now I’m not saying that John is perfect because he is financially unstable and still lives with roommates but I feel like Céline is not saying that money doesn’t matter in love she simply asks indirectly whether money should matter more than love.

Personally for me Harry represents the dream as he has all the perfect qualities, provides security and luxury whereas John represents connection and love. With Harry Lucy seems to have chemistry, fun and attraction but with John she has understanding , intimacy and vulnerability. Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic (yes I’ll be the first to admit) but what resonates most with me is not the beautiful grand gestures or perfect lifestyle but a partner who knows you and truly sees you for who you are.

I have to say that the performances are incredible. Dakota Johnson portrays Lucy with complexity as she captures both her confidence and vulnerability. Chris Evans portrays John in a quiet struggling way but is aware of his flaws while Pedro Pascal portrays Harry’s charm and character complexity with vulnerability. Their chemistry stands out and each add to their character and the plot by highlighting real experiences.

Throughout the movie we meet characters who don’t get much screen time but still have an impact on the story. Sophie (Zoe Winters) who is one of Lucy’s clients, is struggling to find ‘the one’. To me Sophie is like a catalyst for Lucy, as Sophie’s experience of a date that turned into a traumatic event forces Lucy to question her work and her life. While the story doesn’t focus on Sophie her story highlights the reality of dating for women today as even with professional matchmakers safety isn’t always guaranteed. ’Materialists’ highlights real aspects throughout the movie that women everywhere are constantly made to feel as if they have a ticking clock where if you’re not settled down by a certain age with a family it’s seen as a failure. What I find ironic is that even when women put themselves out there to find someone to settle down with there’s always comments about it and safety is never guaranteed as the risk of a negative experience for women on a date in today’s society continues to increase. I feel like Lucy’s line ‘People get married because they’re told they should because they’re lonely and because they’re hopeful.’ sums up the expectations of society. Haven’t we all been told from a fairly young age that one day we will get married, have a husband / wife and kids? We were never told that one day we will find someone who treats us right and loves us the same way we love them. It also feels like society pushes the idea that being single means that you’re lonely when in reality it’s society itself that isolates us from those around us especially now that life seems to become more and more digital. Lucy’s line resonates with me because we’re told to marry, that loneliness is not a good thing but we are also hopeful that maybe just maybe one day we will find a love that feels as real as the ones we read about in books or see in movies.

While we don’t see as much of Harry (Pedro Pascal) as I’m sure we all would have wished his story still stays with you. On paper,Harry seems like the dream partner that has everything society and those around us tell us to look for in a partner. When we discover that Harry underwent surgery to literally break and extend his legs to be taller it’s overwhelming. It’s shocking not because he did it but because he felt like he had to. Harry has charm, wealth and success but he too feels the pressure and insecurity of society expectations over something as height that affected not only his confidence but also his career. When Harry talks about how different people treat him both personally but also in his professional life it just adds to how society values appearances over character.

Another aspect that adds to this is how Lucy’s matchmaking clients seem to all ask for the superficial checkboxes like jobs, money, height, family background, etc. I honestly don’t remember if they talked or asked for something more than this. The unicorn metaphor where Harry is seen as this partner who is ideal, with great looks, wealth, seems perfect and someone women would want is more than it seems. It feels like the film asks if you were offered the unicorn man would you really want him or would you only want him because he is someone we have been told is a perfect partner? I feel like ‘Materialist’ shows that love is not about ticking boxes for social approval and expectations but about the love that is perfect for you although it might not fit every expectation.

Again maybe it’s the hopeless romantic in me talking or my film brain overanalysing but ‘Materialists’ to me feels real and human in so many ways.‘Materialists’ doesn’t give us a perfect ending or shows us what to look for. Céline Song doesn’t sell us a fairytale with the city, the job, the men or the love. She gives us the honest and sometimes uncomfortable reality about society’s expectations when it comes to love and dating. Underneath the love triangle, the fancy dates and the dreamlike New York life the film shows the reality of how society can be unsafe and unforgiving to women , how much worth we place on appearances and wealth , how we chase the dream while we forget what truly makes us happy and how love is not universal to all but personal. I believe that it’s about the courage to choose the love that truly makes us happy and ‘Materialists’ shows this.

What did you think of ‘Materialists’?