Critics hail Celine Song's ‘Materialists' as an ‘exquisitely made' modern love story — not a ‘glossy romantic comedy'
Writer-director Celine Song's sophomore feature, Materialists, may not match the awards buzz of her Oscar-nominated debut, Past Lives, but critics remain impressed with the filmmaker's storytelling prowess.
In Materialists, Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, an ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match — the tall, handsome, and wealthy Harry (Pedro Pascal) — and her imperfect ex, John (Chris Evans). Early reviews for the film have been positive, earning it a "certified fresh" rating with an 86 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. "Generally favorable" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 73 percent.
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Billed as a romcom, Materialists defies traditional genre conventions, with critics noting that Song's filmmaking style elevates the film beyond the familiar tropes of romantic comedy. Caryn James (BBC) wrote, "Materialists is exquisitely made, character-driven and talky, with some glittering dialogue. It's the kind of idiosyncratic film a director sometimes gets to do after a great success and Song makes the most of it." James added that the romantic comedy "is hardly a romcom at all, but something far more original and captivating: a piercingly honest exploration of love and money and the inevitable connection between the two."
The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney calls it, "A refreshingly complex look at modern love, self-worth and the challenges of finding a partner in an unaffordable city, which once again treats three points of a romantic triangle with equal integrity and compassion." Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote, "While it's all too easy to imagine the breezy '90s version of this movie, Materialists is very much not that movie. It's a sharp and serious social romantic drama full of telling observations about the way we live now."
William Babbiani of The Wrap warns not to judge the film by its trailer. "It's exceptionally intelligent and biting filmmaking," he writes. "If you go into Materialists expecting a glossy romantic comedy — as the trailer for Materialists strongly implies, cutesy 'Material Girl' cover and all — you may emerge deeply disappointed. If you go in expecting a pointed exploration of the commodification of modern romance, you may be deeply impressed."
Not all reviews for Materialists, however, are glowing. Kristen Lopez (The Film Maven) wrote, "Materialists is as shallow as its characters, but so desperately wants to think it isn't. The script is all over the place, and when it finally settles into a groove there still seems to be pieces missing." Justin Chang of The New Yorker wasn't impressed either, noting, "I don't buy it, Jane Austen wouldn't buy it, and deep down I don't think Song buys it. In attempting to merge escapist pleasures with financial realities, Materialists trips up on its own high-mindedness."
Materialists opens in theaters on June 13.
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