A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) finds herself torn between the perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect ex (Chris Evans). From Academy Award-nominee Celine Song (Past Lives), this sharp, sexy New York romance exposes the ugly truth of modern dating – and how the chase can cost us what matters most.
What We Thought:
Materialists is one of my favorite films of 2025. The second film from Celine Song isn’t quite as good as her first film Past Lives, but it’s still a solid flick with great performances especially from Chris Evans. I’m at the right point in life to find it 100% relatable and to enjoy the dialogue heavy dramedy.
I call it a dramedy because it is heavy on the drama, but also funny in parts. It’s not laugh out loud funny, but more relatable humor. There is a side story that is very dramatic (and it didn’t completely work for me either), but the overall film doesn’t weigh you down.
Part of why it stays light is the chemistry between Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson. She plays a high end matchmaker. He plays her ex who is still a struggling actor working as a waiter to pay the bills. She meets Pedro Pascal’s character at a wedding of two clients and he immediately wants to know her. He doesn’t want to hire her, he wants to be with her. The first half of the film is trying to figure out if Johnson will end up with the successful, can take care of her Pascal or get back with her still lives with roommates, still drives a beat-up car ex Evans.
The second half of the film is the results of her decision. Pascal and Johnson together are fine, but I enjoyed Johnson and Evans more. I think it’s because his character is more relatable. I’ve done acting work. I’m a single guy who hasn’t figured out life. Evans nails that dynamic brilliantly. You understand why they first broke up because she wanted more in life and he couldn’t provide that. It’s a feeling you’ve either experienced and understand or you haven’t and can’t.
That’s why I liked the film a lot, Song clearly is drawing on personal experience. At some point in life she definitely dated a creative person whether it was an actor, musician, artist or something like that. A flashback scene of Johnson and Evans breaking up feels too authentic for her not to have experienced it herself. The characters seem written from the heart and despite the leads being all attractive and talented people, they still seem real and human because of Song’s dialogue. The woman can write authenticity and words you’ve spoken yourself.
If you add in overseas money Materialists made over $100 million at the box office. It was pretty successful because of the international market. It’s a film that the under 30 crowd probably didn’t check out because it’s not for them per se. If you’re over 35 and still dating or trying to figure out life it’s incredibly relatable. Song writes effortless dialogue and directs her cast naturally with great framing and her trademark front stoop shots. It’s a relatively simple film that relies on dialogue and performances and it works because of it.
The Nerds Templar 