Materialists (2025)

After two viewings of this movie the question I am still trying to unlock is, is this a comedy? On my first viewing I was in a theatre that was less crowded with a couple people that were a bit older, and the film got laughs and chuckles. I felt in tune with the energy and delivery of the rhythm of the film. On my second viewing I saw it in a packed theatre on a Friday night with an eclectic group of viewers who appeared to not know much of the film. That impression comes only from the passive conversation I heard while taking my seat, and the surprise of Chris Evans being in the movie and the outcry of joy his appearance made. In this packed theatre the film didn’t just get laughs, it got uproarious laughter, often for moments that in my first viewing I took completely straight.

What drew me to the film is the principal character Lucy. She is really hateable, and yet is warm, sweet, and vulnerable. As is repeated throughout the film, she is a good fit for her role of matchmaker for the cold and calculating way she approaches romance. The term math gets used frequently to describe this brand of seeing the world; certain characteristics and circumstances work together better than others, there is an equation to solve to ensure a successful relationship. But that itself is an angle, because Lucy is also selling her services where this cold view of life has a monetary value. Some of the humor is drawn from her meeting clients who requests for what they are looking for in a partner are on the extreme side, pushed further by the fact they are paying thousands of dollars for this dating service.

Lucy is honest about a lot of herself and experience. When first approached by Harry, she openly says she is remaining single and intends to marry only for a large amount of money. Despite that Harry has a large quantity of money, she rebuffs many of his advances citing the “math” not adding up. In her previous long term relationship she found that money was the principal problem. Lucy refers to her own parents' unhappy marriage that was marked by multiple fights based on money.  What is consistent between both relationships is Lucy herself, who never stops judging herself as insufficient and hateful. Both love interests repeatedly tell her that they in fact do value her, but she does not accept it. 

Bringing me back to my original question, is this a comedy? Lucy’s understanding of her nature and what she wants is closely examined. Starting from her conception of what the first marriage was like, to accepting that despite what she says, she believes in more than emotions as an equation. The personal progress she makes throughout the film leaves all the observations of what modern love is like in place. It doesn’t challenge the worldview the film presents. In that, I didn’t find the film particularly funny, but it did make me laugh. If I was to venture a guess as to why the audience was in stitches in the second viewing, I would say that it portrayed a modern take on dating and life that was relatable. 

Many of the more casual moments of conversation between John and Lucy help ground the characters in the broader story. John’s (Chris Evans character) interactions dealing with his roommates in his tiny apartment while trying to get his life together in his 30’s hit home for me. It offers a small snapshot of a modern New York romance.

Written by Natasha Melbrew

2025/06/28