Celine Song is a director with an eye for relationships finding faith. After the success of Past Lives, there is a sense of experimentation with her newest feature, Materialists. The perception of the film feels like a blur, but at the same time the characterizations have various conflicting dynamics. Despite those obstacles, it is stellar in its continuity and keeps its focus on what the hearts of the main characters want. Theinterconnection of flaws and frustrations weaves poetically because Song knows how to portray acceptance with Materialists.

The film’s main setting is New York city and the main character, Lucy (Dakota Johnson), is a matchmaker. She makes a living by matching individuals with their potential new mate. She assesses candidate’s chances by taking into consideration multiple characteristics—age, occupation, salary, and purpose. Lucy relies upon trial and error in her work but seems to maintain a healthy lifestyle although sometimes loneliness gets to her. She also experiences ups and downs with her friend Sophie (Zoe Winters).

Fortunately, she believes she has found luck with a wealthy match named Harry (Pedro Pascal). However, her biggest challenge remains mending her relationship with her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans). John is a waiter and a struggling actor. The film weaves together moments of their relationship from the past along with how it is in the present. At the same time, Lucy is trying to navigate the hurdles of being a matchmaker and figure out if her heart is set on Harry or John. The life of a matchmaker is an interesting process when trying to find one’s own true love.

The scenes alternate between finding momentum and then feeling dry. At the same time, the film maintains the pattern of a thought process for its audience. Song successfully creates an atmosphere for her audience to be inspired. The humanistic approach of Materialists carries the hope of happiness waiting to be found which is explored through the performances of Johnson and Evans. These two characters are the primary ones struggling even though one of them is one making bank by helping others find love. Money does not buy happiness. This well-known fact has a sensitive side that builds on the connection between reality and true love and is portrayed with a fulfilling light of aspiration in Materialists.

Materialists is relevant to real-life especially because it is set in the current era where finding love is harder than ever in a world full of advancements and easy distractions. The evidence of distress is clearly displayed by Song in the film. The collaboration between a woman helping people find love, a struggling actor, and a wealthy businessman is complicated. The question of whether each person can find happiness is handled vividly in Materialists.

This is not the greatest film from Song, but it is a solid steppingstone. Past Lives is still her most mesmerizing project. The brilliance of her style is within the dynamics that weave back and forth. Overall, Materialists achieves an experimental form of continuity. Three out of four stars.