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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Materialists' Review: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal Bring Affecting Soulfulness to Celine Song's Perceptive Romantic Drama
If you watched the trailer for Materialists with sinking expectations while thinking, 'Wait, the director of the exquisite Past Lives made this utterly generic rom-com?!' — come on, you know you did — you can breathe a sigh of relief. Deceptive marketing aside, playwright turned filmmaker Celine Song's assured second feature is 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. There's much talk about unicorns in the dating field in Song's script, and her film could be called the same — a glossy, good-looking drama veined with humor, introspection and questioning intelligence, driven as much by insightful writing as star charisma. Not that those stars don't bring a lot to the table, especially Dakota Johnson, doing her best work since The Lost Daughter. More from The Hollywood Reporter Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter Sign Open Letter Supporting Federal Funding for LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Kinky Romance 'Pillion' Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Harry Melling Sells to Multiple Territories 'The Last of Us' Creators on That Finale Death, Ending and Season 3 Changes Johnson stars as Lucy, a matchmaker with a strong track record at Adore, a high-end firm that specializes in finding partners for well-heeled New Yorkers, ameliorating the risks of playing the field unassisted. The profession instantly sparks thoughts of a cute Jane Austen throwback, but one of the distinguishing qualities of Materialists is the way that Song, who worked at a dating agency while getting her theater career off the ground, treats it as a real job. And a demanding one in such a famously competitive city. The writer-director finds a playful entry point by starting not in Manhattan but in a majestic rocky landscape where the only signs of life are a hot caveman returning from foraging and placing a makeshift ring on the finger of the woman waiting for him. Unless there's a Cro-Magnon stylist at work somewhere, his meticulously trimmed beard is a giveaway that this fanciful prologue is the product of someone's marriage-obsessed imagination. Romantic unions generally prove more complicated in present-day New York, where Lucy's consultation with a pair of clients she matched suggests the gulf in partner requirements that can yield two radically different responses to the same first date. 'I would never swipe right on a woman like her,' says the guy indignantly, pointing out the ways in which she didn't quite adhere to her profile. The woman, Sophie (Zoë Winters), thought the date went gangbusters. She's appalled to learn that she didn't measure up, despite being willing to overlook his shortcomings in terms of height, hairline and salary level. 'I'm just asking for the bare minimum,' she fumes. 'I'm trying to settle!' Similar amusing consults are intercut throughout, usually from Lucy's P.O.V. and showing only the client. There's the expected representation of middle-aged men whose chief requirement is fit (no one with a BMI over 20), attractive and with a cut-off age around 29. But Song refuses to stack the deck, including a comparable number of women whose rigid demands significantly narrow the market. One such woman is Lucy herself, who seems to have made peace with being single, given how hard it is to snag a dude who's smart, handsome, in shape and earning north of $500K a year. Those men, in her game, are known as unicorns. The beauty of Johnson's performance is the light touch she brings to that calculation, never letting Lucy be reduced to an off-putting gold-digger, even if her approach to marriage is that of a business deal in which the terms must be right. Despite the odds against making matches that stick, she has managed to notch up an impressive nine weddings of clients she connected. That makes her the star of the all-female firm and the MVP of her savvy boss Violet (Marin Ireland), who observes that working with the loneliness and rejection of their clients makes them better than therapists. Lucy also has a gift for talking brides with cold feet off ledges, as evidenced when her latest success story, Charlotte (Louisa Jacobson), balks on her wedding day. When Charlotte, in a very funny moment, reveals the true reason she wants to marry her fiancé, Lucy turns that unflattering confession into a soothing reassurance about the bride's right to feel valued. At that same wedding, Lucy catches the eye of the groom's brother, Harry (Pedro Pascal), as she's casually putting out feelers for new clients. But he's more interested in her than her service. A brief, flirty exchange at the singles table reveals Harry to be the complete package — suave, witty, affluent and well put-together, or as Lucy puts it, 'a unicorn.' He's perceptive about the tricky balance of her role as a matchmaker, never making her clients feel they need her but positioning herself as a luxury good: 'If they can afford you, why not?' Just as Lucy and Harry start hitting it off, however, her ex, John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor making ends meet as a cater-waiter, interrupts. Their subsequent conversation during his break suggests lasting affection on both sides. But Lucy is a pragmatist, recalling an anniversary fight with John when they were broke and unhappy. Since he's still driving the same clapped-out car and sharing the same run-down apartment with two annoying roommates, John's stock remains low. That's not a problem when Lucy starts dating Harry, even if it earns her some side-eye from an Adore colleague for taking a unicorn off the market. Without drifting into trite rom-com territory, Song illustrates the seductiveness — especially in a city where the wealth divide is as chasmic as New York — of swanky restaurant meals with a date who picks up the check with barely a glance, arrives with an armful of flowers, owns a $12 million penthouse and asks where in the world she would most like to go, not as a hypothetical but an invitation. What elevates the movie is that all this stuff of airy romantic fantasy stays unexpectedly grounded in the real world. Perhaps taking a cue from Joachim Trier's inspired use of Harry Nilsson on the soundtrack of another not-quite-rom-com, The Worst Person in the World, Song plays out those honeymoon-phase scenes to 'I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City,' one of a handful of choice needle-drops. (Not least among them is the great John Prine's duet with Iris DeMent, 'In Spite of Ourselves,' a wryly optimistic song about love overcoming incompatibilities.) Even as the movie settles into a predictable pattern of Lucy being torn between two men offering her very different futures, it's never simplistic. When Lucy tells Harry he could land a 25-year-old, he says he's looking for 'intangible assets,' not material wealth, of which he has plenty. Song's script avoids glibness in dealing with the transactional aspects of partnering and the commodification of certain attributes. There's a frankness here that's refreshing as Materialists explores ideas of personal value and increasing one's worth — including via the obvious path of cosmetic surgery. Some might find the introduction of a major conflict — when a different date turns nightmarish for Sophie, causing Lucy to question her certainties about what makes a good match and berate herself for failing to spot red flags — to be a heavy-handed nudge toward a resolution. But there's no arguing with the effectiveness of a beautifully played scene between Winters and Johnson that builds to a shattered but furious Sophie calling Lucy a pimp. Each of the three leads has moments of raw tenderness, fragility, even fear that add depth to the drama. Johnson plays Lucy's disillusionment as something bone-deep, almost lacerating, not just a crisis of conscience; Pascal reveals the underlying sadness and self-doubt hiding behind Harry's smooth veneer; and perhaps best of all, Evans distills a key theme of the movie when John questions whether he's worthless and disposable, his words not too distant from Sophie's. Especially for someone relatively new to filmmaking, Song's thoughtfulness as a writer is matched by unerring instincts as a director — nailing the balance between tonal variation and fluidity; getting superb work out of her actors; making judicious use of Daniel Pemberton's gentle, melancholy score; and delivering a sweet, satisfying ending that keeps a lid on the sentiment. That this wrap-up happens on the stoop of an apartment building provides a nice callback to Past Lives. It also establishes that Materialists, like its predecessor, is every inch a New York movie, an aspect enhanced by the light and textures of cinematographer Shabier Kirchner's crystalline visuals. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Forbes
25-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
The 5 Biggest Threats To Modern Relationships — By A Psychologist
Modern couples must navigate social, emotional and even technological terrain like never before. ... More Here are some of the biggest challenges they face in relationships today. Relationships are never easy, but modern love comes with its own unique set of challenges. As times change, couples encounter newer obstacles that can drive them apart, and new research echoes this shift. In a 2025 study published in the American Journal of Psychology, Dr. Albert Oduwole surveyed over 200 adults in relationships and conducted in-depth interviews with 12 couples. He ultimately found five primary obstacles to modern love. 'Contemporary couples must negotiate a fast-paced, digitally connected world marked by endless distraction, shifting cultural values and amplified individualistic mindset,' Oduwole explains. Here are five of the biggest challenges that strain modern relationships, according to the 2025 study. For many of us today, imagining a life without smartphones is nearly impossible. While we've seen rapid technological advancements and a widespread use of social media worldwide, not all of it has contributed to social connection. In fact, being glued to a screen is the one of the primary reasons why many modern relationships suffer. A 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 51% of adults report their partners engaging in 'phubbing,' or phone snubbing, which refers to being distracted by one's cellphone during personal interactions. The survey found that phubbing was most common in couples under 30 years old, but older generations aren't immune to it either. Such behavior, understandably, can make the other person feel hurt, ignored and unprioritized. 'I have to repeat myself because he's scrolling Instagram. It makes me feel invisible,' one participant of the 2025 study mentioned. 'I was telling him about a work issue and pouring my heart out and he was scrolling through Twitter. He didn't even realize for a minute,' another participant shared. Unsurprisingly, partner phubbing is associated with lower relationship satisfaction and the perception of lower relationship quality, according to a 2022 study published in Psychological Reports. Social media use can also fuel relationship conflict, as 33% of surveyed participants pointed out in Oduwole's study. Couples reported arguing over liking other people's posts, jealousy over shared online history with exes or disagreements over what to post about their own relationship, with many preferring to keep their dynamic more private. Clearly, modern couples must increasingly navigate technological boundaries, as they often reflect deeper psychological ones. The solution is clear: while technology doesn't have to be cut out completely, it does need to be used with intention and consciously avoided in moments of meaningful interpersonal interaction. 'Couples who set aside 'tech-free' quality time (at least an hour in the evening with the devices put away) reported fewer issues with distraction,' Oduwole confirms. Core values bring people together, but they can also just as easily divide them. Discussions about political ideology, religion, gender roles and socio-cultural issues can be especially divisive, as they're often tied to our sense of identity, morality and justice. A foundation of shared values helps relationships flourish, but for couples with opposing ideologies, that foundation is likely to crack. A 2024 survey of over 3,000 American adults by The Matchmaking Company found that 46% of singles would want to avoid dating someone with opposing political views, with a whopping 82% of democrats considering political compatibility essential to their relationships. One in ten Gen Z individuals would even end a date immediately upon discovering such incompatibility. Couples today must balance personal convictions with their respect for one another, and decide for themselves whether their differences are something they can live with — or if they seem impossible to ever reconcile. One participant in the 2025 study described how he navigated such sensitive issues with his wife: 'I was brought up with a stay-at-home mom and working father. My default assumption in my subconscious was that my wife would do the household stuff like my mom did. She, however, splits it equally. We had a lot of fights until I became aware that I was being unjust.' This participant's story highlights how with communication, self-reflection and intentional action, it's possible for partners to protect their relationship, despite deep-rooted differences. Many participants with conflicting ideologies also reported cohabiting peacefully for the most part, while being careful not to bring up divisive topics and focus on their similarities instead. In contrast, other participants described frustration with their partners being 'too woke' and feeling 'censored' or forced into being more politically correct. About 30% of participants in Oduwole's study had experienced long-distance relationships, often due to work or academic commitments, with 70% rating these relationships as deeply challenging. While increased mobility invites personal, economic and professional growth, it can also strain personal relationships. Long-distance couples often struggle with a lack of quality time, as well as fewer opportunities for emotional and physical intimacy. If they previously shared a home, they may also experience difficulty in revising their roles and responsibilities. Most notably, relational insecurities tend to surface in the wake of separation, especially when couples lack a clear timeline for reuniting. Knowing that the distance between them is temporary can help couples stay on track and prioritize intimacy and commitment. However, uncertain reunion timelines may exacerbate the emotional challenges they face. Increased work hours, long commutes and the inability to say no to work in pursuit of financial security are all factors that can derail work-life balance and lead to detrimental health outcomes. Many participants in Oduwole's study knew without a doubt that work stress and hectic schedules spilled over into their relationships. In turn, this impacted their relationship satisfaction, intimacy and family time, as well as both partners' mental well-being. 'When I've had a bad day at work, I end up either venting on my spouse or just shutting down completely. In either case, it affects her,' one participant explained. Additionally, a lack of quality time and emotional availability can drive even the most loving partners apart. In fact, 62% of participants confirmed that not spending time together was one of their greatest relationship challenges. 'We had weekly date nights before, and now it's more like once every 2–3 months, since something always comes up; work deadlines, family obligations or we're simply too tired,' another participant explained, highlighting how this change had 'killed' the romance in her relationship. Oduwole suggests that couples require a minimum of five hours of quality time each week to experience relationship satisfaction. That means no devices, distractions or mentions of to-do lists — only meaningful one-on-one time. Early experiences of rejection, abandonment and neglect by a caregiver can shape relationships well into adulthood. These experiences can result in emotional withdrawal, excessive attachment or even lashing out in romantic relationships, where these early emotional wounds often resurface. Participants who had adverse childhood experiences reported lower relationship satisfaction than those without such challenging upbringings. However, one positive impact of growing mental health awareness and access to therapy in contemporary society is that many more individuals are open to addressing and working on these relational patterns. One participant, recognizing the role her father's absence had played in her life, mentioned: 'I'm always afraid my partner will leave me, and I know it's irrational, but I can't shake it. It leads me to act controlling, which then causes real problems.' Another participant also showed emotional insight into how his family influenced his hesitation to freely express emotions in his relationship. 'Problems were silently endured, not discussed,' he shared. While modern love faces newer challenges, the tools to overcome them aren't out of reach. The key to sustaining love is largely what it's always been: prioritizing quality time, respect, communication, emotional awareness and intimacy above all. With deep intention and consistent effort, these relationships can thrive — regardless of technology, distance, ideology or the demands of modern-day living. Are you guilty of phubbing in your relationship? Take this science-backed test to find out: The Phubbing Scale
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
David Bowie's daughter Lexi Jones debuts new romance in set of sweet snaps - and admits she is 'besotted' with her partner
Her father once belted out that he 'don't believe in modern love' in one of his most popular hits. But David Bowie 's daughter Lexi Jones, real name Alexandria Zahra Jones, showed that romance is alive and well as she debuted her new boyfriend on her Instagram on Monday. The singer, 24, posted a slew of cute snaps of her and British musician Sonny James and the couple looked incredibly loved up. In one photo, Lexi, who David had with his second wife Iman, embraced her new man as they lay outside on a picnic rug. She wore a striking patched denim midi skirt, teaming it with a purple and lilac bikini top. Lexi toted a dark brown leather handbag with a tan strap, adding black leather boots and some dark sunglasses. Sonny, meanwhile, sported a black short-sleeve shirt over a beige t-shirt, completing his look with light blue faded jeans, white socks and black-rimmed shades with orange lenses. Another clip saw the pair performing a duet in a bar, with Lexi providing the vocals for their song Left in Ruins and her new man strumming away on an acoustic guitar. She expressed her love for Sonny, who is an up-and-coming musician from Northamptonshire, in a short caption which read: 'Besotted.' In further snaps posted to her Stories, the rock great's only child snuggled up to her partner as they sunbathed, while in another he took a group selfie with some friends. Last month, Lexi, who lives in the US, uploaded a pic of the pair together which saw her wear a jazzy polychrome marbled tight-fitting top below a burnt orange buttoned jacket. She added a short white skirt, white tights, knee-length tan boots, a dark brown leather handbag and accessorised with some bright red sunglasses. Sonny looked stylish in a beige shacket over a khaki t-shirt, completing the outfit with rolled up white trousers and some black boots. Their new romance comes nine years after Lexi suffered the devastating loss of her father, who passed away from cancer in January 2016. She was just 15 at the time and has since spoken candidly about how she struggled to cope in the years that followed. 'I confused living life with surviving life's days by filling my body's bottomless void, drowning myself in toxins and poison,' she wrote online last year. 'I involved myself in things I never expected to be part of. Situating myself in situations that contributed to the already crumbling foundation of my family eventually led to lonely isolation. 'I've hurt the ones I loved most with hateful words to make them feel at least a little bit of the pain I went through every day. 'It felt easier to label myself as a psychopath, rather than to have admitted to the lack of introspection in an effort to justify my harmful actions. 'Growing to be such a violent and angry individual was unbelievably contradictory to the sweet and gentle little girl I used to be.' Despite her famous name, Lexi has spent most of her teenage years and early twenties shying away from the spotlight. She only recently began sharing more of her life with the public, posting her artwork and, more recently, launching her music. Her romance with Sonny marks the first time Lexi has publicly shared details about her love life. Friends say he has been a huge support for her as she continues to navigate life in the shadow of her father's enormous legacy. David was famously devoted to his daughter. In an interview with Hello! magazine after Lexi's birth, he said: 'It is amazing how a new child can refocus one's direction seconds after its birth. Everything falls into a feeling of "rightness". 'I have huge waves of parental love and protection pouring from me.' Last month, Lexi released her debut album Xandri, with a sweet nod to her dad. But it appears the pressure from the public to follow in her father's very successful footsteps has taken a toll on the star. Taking to Instagram, Lexi posted a heartfelt poem which gave an insight into her emotions and the pressure of being David's child. She penned: 'David Bowie's Daughter, that gets your attention, ay?' It appears the pressure from the public to follow in her father's very successful footsteps has taken a toll on the star Lexi released her debut album Xandri, with a sweet nod to her father, but reminded her followers that she is 'not a copy' and 'not a shadow' 'I'm the daughter of a legend, but I'm more than just his name. They see the blood, they hear the sound, yet fail to see me, don't feel the same. 'They compare me to his heights, like I'm supposed to reach his light. But I'm not here to chase what's already been done. By loving what I do, I feel I've already won.' To finish her verses, she reminded her followers that she is 'not a copy' and 'not a shadow'. She penned: 'I'm not trying to fill his shoes. I'm just trying to find my own peace.'
