My Review of the Film ‘Materialists’ by Celine Song

I rewatched this film on a plane and enjoyed it much more than the first time. It starts as a classic romantic comedy, then goes in a completely unexpected direction and it’s total chaos. I’d say the film works really well for about an hour and 20 minutes, and after that it’s a complete mess. I’m going to critique it for those who’ve seen it, because I can’t skip the spoilers.

What I really loved was the film’s aesthetic: the framing, the atmospheres, the colors. And the characters’ wardrobe is top-notch, especially Lucy’s.

The film is a critique of dating apps and how we look for a partner with criteria as if we were buying a car. A hierarchy is established based on income, height, age… It’s as hard for men to get a good rating as it is for women to climb that ladder.

I’ve always considered myself lucky to have gotten married right after school and to have spared myself hours and hours of searching, because it would have stolen my time and therefore my career.

Like everyone, I was very surprised to see Lucy go back to her ex John, a penniless actor whose life with his roommates is so chaotic you want to turn off the screen. In 10 years, he hasn’t budged an inch, he’s still in survival mode and doesn’t try to change his strategy to move forward. She, on her side, has become the best matchmaker in her agency and is on the verge of getting a management position. She meets Harry, 10/10, multimillionaire, ready to marry her. But between them, there’s no love. So instead of choosing no one, she chooses John, because at least he’s living proof that she’s capable of loving. WTF!!

After a second viewing and a lot of time spent trying to understand the ending, I came to the conclusion that the actress was poorly cast. That’s why it felt like Lucy could be on the same energy level as Harry. Dakota Johnson, who plays Lucy, is a nepo baby who’s been at Harry’s level from the start. She didn’t hesitate to stand up to Ellen DeGeneres, contributing to her downfall.

There’s a scene where she’s surrounded by bridesmaids, all gorgeous, and Dakota really stands out because she has an incredible aura, superb posture, and crazy confidence. I watched a video that analyzed her style over the years and noticed that her posture, confidence, and style have really asserted themselves.

Everything she wears costs far more than Lucy’s annual $80k salary (plus bonuses), especially in New York. Internet users had fun tracking down the same clothes and jewelry worn in the film, and we’re at $1000 minimum per item. I found the same silk shirt, sold new for $150, and on Vinted for €75 if you’re interested.

Lucy has the looks, the budget (because having that skin, that body costs money), and the clothes of a star, not of an $80k employee in New York. So when we see her with Harry, multimillionaire, she doesn’t stand out, she’s at his level. Even Pedro Pascal admitted in an interview that he felt out of place opposite Dakota, that he didn’t expect to have such a beautiful partner on screen. If the film had chosen a more discreet, less well-known actress with a cheaper wardrobe, she wouldn’t have exuded that aura or that confidence, and we’d probably have better understood why Lucy chooses John. Because deep down, Lucy lacks self-esteem, doesn’t have a single friend, and has a very low energy level that matches John’s (both lack ambition & self-esteem – Lucy can’t even accept a promotion, and doesn’t try to make up for her lack of a degree, unlike many ambitious Americans in her situation). Despite a very ‘put together’ appearance, she’s actually as chaotic as he is.

The real question isn’t choosing between love and money. It’s being able to have both. But you have to work on yourself first.

The film critiques the value system of dating apps, but it reveals another, much subtler one: that of energy level. We attract what we are, not what we want. Lucy could have been with a Harry equivalent (with whom there would be love) if she’d resolved her self-esteem issues, if she’d worked on her inner chaos as much as she worked on her career and appearance. Before looking for a partner, the real question is: Am I the person I’d want to attract? Because you can scroll for hours on an app, tick all the boxes, and optimize your profile, but if you haven’t done that inner work, you’ll always think you only deserve a John.