★★★☆☆
An amusing, uncomplicated ride with John Wick-style combat.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Sunday, August 10, 2025
The Materialists - Review: A Bleak Social Drama in a Rom-Com Wrapper
★★★☆☆
A literal warning about the cold, transactional nature of 2025 courtship.
The Materialists is billed as a romantic comedy, but the movie isn't comedic and is honestly not especially romantic. Directed by Celine Song, fresh from her critically acclaimed Past Lives, the film features an affable cast including Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. However, their natural charm is used to mask characters that are intentionally unlikable.
"The title is actually not a clever pun. It is a literal warning."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: Celine Song
- Starring: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans
- Key Dept: Produced by A24
The Vision
Song is reflecting a cynical truth: the modern dating landscape is frankly not very appealing. She uses the aesthetic package of a cinematic rom-com to pull a bait-and-switch, making the film's social commentary on the transactional nature of dating more jarring and effective. It is less about love and more about the "warts" of romance characters.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- NYC Roots: Like Past Lives, the film is set against the high-stakes backdrop of the New York City elite.
- A24 Reunion: This marks Celine Song’s second high-profile collaboration with A24.
- The Casting: The leads were chosen specifically for their "charismatic charm" to heighten the impact of their characters' cynical behavior.
✅ Pros
- Soulful, if cold, social commentary on 2025 dating.
- Exceptional chemistry from a top-tier cast.
❌ Cons
- Deliberate "misdirect" in marketing may alienate audiences.
- Lacks the traditional warmth or humor expected of the genre.
Full Review
The Materialists is a movie billed as a romantic comedy, but the truth is that the film isn't particularly comedic and is honestly not very romantic. Directed by Celine Song, fresh from her critically acclaimed drama Past Lives, the film features arguably the most affable cast working today. Much of the draw here is due to the natural charismatic charm of Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans.
However, these characters are not especially likable—which is entirely by design. Song uses this cynical story to reflect a modern dating landscape that is frankly unappealing and incredibly challenging. She reminds us that everyone has warts, even characters in a romance. At its core, The Materialists is probably more akin to a bleak social drama, deceptively wrapped in the aesthetic package of a cinematic rom-com.
Based on that packaging and the early critical reviews, many audience members legitimately rejected the film, which is forgivable. Who deserves the blame for this misdirect? While it would be easy to blame the marketing, I believe this "bait and switch" is exactly what Celine Song was going for to make the film's message more effective. The title is actually not a clever pun, but a literal warning.
My recommendation would be that if you are looking for traditional romantic comedy entertainment, this film is definitely not the place to find it; you should run, not walk, toward Notting Hill. But there is real value here as a social commentary on the cynical, painful, transactional, and cold nature of courtship in 2025. If you are in the mood to watch a reflection of that awkward reality—which, honestly, most people are not—then The Materialists is for you.
🏆 Final Verdict
If you're looking for traditional romantic entertainment, run towards Notting Hill. But if you want a cynical, awkward, and cold autopsy of modern courtship, The Materialists is for you.
View on LetterboxdWednesday, August 06, 2025
Jurrasic World Rebirth - Review: A life-affirming work that proves there is still mileage left in these dinosaurs.
Jurassic World Rebirth
A life-affirming work that proves there is still mileage left in these dinosaurs.Tuesday, July 29, 2025
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