Materialist – Couple’s Critique Review

Genre: Romance | Read Time: 2 minutes | Runtime: 1h 57m |

Credits: Written & directed by Celine Song; starring Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal.

Spoiler-Free Review

The Materialist tries to be a modern twist on an old-school romance, asking the audience, “What is love, or is love not good enough?” For what it is, it delivers a semi-compelling love triangle with good performances to answer that very question. The chemistry between the three leads works well enough, though it often feels like there’s a missing spark between Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson, which the movie ignores alongside pacing issues. The biggest thing you need to look over is that Chris Evans, at 44 years old, is the poor pipe-dream loser despite being “2022’s Sexiest Man Alive.” However, Pedro Pascal delivers a solid performance, exactly what you’d expect from him, adding a unique charm where it’s needed. 

The romance is meant to be thoughtful and contemporary, but the pacing dips in a few key moments. Some stretches feel flat, even with strong performances from the cast. One storyline that focuses on Dakota Johnson’s character adds weight and seriousness to the film, a valuable element, but it’s tonally out of place. It wasn’t bad, but it feels like it belonged in a different movie, with more time to explore and be appreciated.

Cinematography is one of the film’s biggest strengths. It contrasts high-class environments with dimmer, more grounded scenes centered on Chris Evans’ character. This visual split hits the theme of rich vs poor with a modern romantic flair. It also helped that the movie was shot on film, and it has a nostalgic element, which itself contrasts with the contemporary take on a familiar love story. When Macaila and I watched it at home, the movie didn’t leave us with heavy emotions or big takeaways, but it made for a decent home-theater night. Afterward, we found ourselves talking more about what could’ve been rather than what stuck with us. All in all, we are not upset about the time spent watching it.

Food and Drink Pairing

To match the film’s high-low aesthetic, go with something playful:
Most expensive Italian take-out near you (we’re kidding… unless?)
Paired with a beer and a Coke.

Final Verdict (Couples Rating)

If you have the time, it’s a pretty good movie for a date night, but if you’ve been dying to watch, don’t hold your breath.