Materialists review: Pedro Pascal and Dakota Johnson explore love

Thursday 07 August 2025 6:56 pm

Simply in case you haven’t had sufficient of Pedro Pascal after The Final of Us, Unbelievable 4 and the forthcoming Eddington, the in-demand A-lister kinds one nook of a really glamorous love triangle in romantic drama Materialists.

Dakota Johnson performs Lucy, a single New Yorker who makes an awesome residing as knowledgeable matchmaker, pairing “high-value” people primarily based on their bodily and monetary attributes. Her scientific method to like is rooted in an upbringing that left her petrified of poverty – one thing that ended her earlier relationship. Her ex, broke actor John (Chris Evans), re-enters her life simply as she begins courting Harry (Pascal), whose wealth and a spotlight are the whole lot she needs on paper. However an incident at work makes her query her complete outlook on love.

The synopsis would possibly sound just like the setup for a cut-and-paste romantic comedy – a cynical matchmaker caught between two hunks – however fortunately, director Celine Track is aiming for one thing extra grown-up. Her gorgeous debut, 2023’s Previous Lives, explored the concept of romantic kismet and soulmates. She returns to comparable territory right here, asking whether or not real love is one thing intangible – and in that case, how do we all know after we discover it?

There’s a wholesome diploma of cynicism within the storytelling, however not the place you would possibly anticipate. Relatively than tearing down the concept of real love to look subversive, the movie as a substitute questions those that consider a life associate will be discovered via a guidelines of “must-haves”. Whereas Johnson’s sharp Manhattanite initially presents her system as completely cheap, the concept of selecting a possible associate like one would select a brand new automotive step by step begins to really feel absurd. But nobody is mocked – each character will get an opportunity to precise their emotions, constructing a imaginative and prescient of romance that doesn’t depend on drained tropes.

Johnson makes Lucy’s weaknesses as compelling as her strengths, portraying somebody whose previous makes her crave safety over spark. She’s the proper lead for Track, whose earlier movie favoured quiet, intense emotion over theatrics – and he or she shares real chemistry with each main males. Star of the second Pascal oozes class because the financier whose objectives seem to align with Lucy’s, whereas Evans has scruffy attraction because the broke ex who loves her deeply. It could be apparent early on whom Lucy belongs with, however the pleasure lies within the emotional journey.

Materialists ends fairly neatly, however its mature tackle the extra vapid aspect of courting is nuanced sufficient to make that conclusion satisfying. As soon as once more, Track explores the quiet, sincere corners of the center to share a message that’s something however superficial.

• Materialists is in cinemas from 15 August