At The Movies: Materialists
The Materialists has more depth than your traditional rom-com so can you then call it a rom-com? There’s plenty of rom but not so much com in this surface scratching search for the ultimate soulmate. Lucy played by Dakota Johnson who works at Adore Matchmaking Agency as a matchmaker but she’s not interested in finding her own match after breaking it off with John, played by Chris Evans. A struggling actor still living in the same share house with his sketchy roommates working at a catering company to make ends meet in between gigs, he’s the nice guy who shouldn’t come last.
Lucy has her own must haves for her next relationship; rich being the top of the list. She openly admits to wanting the material things in life. Enters Harry, played by Pedro Pascal, a wealthy single man looking for a more substantial relationship than just a trophy wife, Willing to sacrifice love for an intelligent and meaningful partner to live a life of companionship he finds Lucy attractive and she also finds what he can offer attractive.
While Lucy is, as she readily admits, selfish and materialistic she has a balance of likability with frustrating qualities. With the office record of nine matches resulting in marriage, she’s a gun at her job matching singles and always the voice of reason during a crisis. As for her own life, she’s determined not to fall in love. The love triangle between the three likable characters is simple and almost predictable. John is sensitive, caring, and dependable while Harry is attractive, rich, and philosophical. Noone is the bad guy here but who is the good guy?
After a serious incident with one of Lucy’s clients turns into a litigious crisis, Lucy starts to question her job, her integrity and approach towards the whole process of matchmaking. This leads to an internalisation of what she really wants from a relationship and making some adjustments to her expectations.
The Materialists is a unintrusive film. It doesn’t have the soppiness of a rom-com. It’s more of a thinking persons rom-com that has an attractive cast with twists and turns but you don’t need a seat belt.
Movie Review By Anastasia Lambis