I nurtured a soft spot for Rom‑Coms made with heart – but Celine Song’s Materialists isn’t just another one. Last night at SIFF Uptown, I found myself drawn into the world of Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a matchmaker who crafts “perfect” pairings… except maybe for her own love story.
The film unfolds like an urban fairy tale—she’s torn between her imperfect ex, John (Chris Evans), and the pristine Harry (Pedro Pascal). But it’s not mere spectacle; it cleverly interrogates the transactional nature of modern dating. With Jonathan lines like “tomorrow: vintage Cartier, charcuterie, but still an experience,” it asks: is consistency all that matters?
The cast breathes nuance into every glance and silenced moment—Johnson is commanding without losing vulnerability, Evans draws you in with a slow-burning charm, and Pascal brings layered elegance. Behind it all, Song’s screenplay and Shabier Kirchner’s cinematography make deja-vu feel like rediscovery. (Also: Japanese Breakfast’s track “My Baby (Got Nothing At All)” plays at the perfect moment—just saying.)
Filmmaker Charli XCX named it the start of a “Celine Song Summer”—a season of vulnerability under cynicism. If you want love that aches and enlightens, this is the ticket.
#FilmFriday #Materialists #CelineSongSummer #DakotaJohnson #MatchmakerMovie #ModernRomCom #SIFF