💍 Movie Review: Materialists (2025)

My sister and I went to see the movie Materialist last Friday. We had been eagerly anticipating this after watching the trailer a few months earlier. The film's plot follows Lucy, a professional matchmaker for the affluent in New York City. During the wedding of her most recent successful match, she is approached by financier Harry Castillo, the groom's brother, who shows romantic interest. Lucy turns him down, proposing that he become a client instead. At the same event, she unexpectedly encounters her ex-boyfriend John, who is working as a caterer and still pursuing his acting career. The sight of John brings back a flood of memories and unresolved feelings, forcing Lucy to confront her past and the choices she made that led to their breakup. As the story unfolds, Lucy finds herself at a crossroads, torn between the allure of a seemingly perfect match in Harry, who embodies stability and success, and the deep emotional connection she shares with John, who represents her past and the dreams they once had together. This inner conflict propels the narrative forward, leading Lucy to explore what love truly means to her.

My personal opinion of this film is I didn't really like it.. I understand that the central message of the film was to highlight how modern dating has become increasingly superficial, which is a topic that resonates with many individuals in today’s society. The film attempts to explore the complexities of contemporary relationships, particularly how technology and social media have influenced our interactions and perceptions of potential partners.

I felt a sense of disappointment with the ending of the film. To me, it simply didn't make sense that Lucy would choose to get back together with John, even though I had a lingering suspicion that this might happen. Throughout the film, the narrative built ups tensions and conflicts that led to their initial breakup, and I found it hard to believe that those same issues would magically resolve themselves by the conclusion. The reasons for their separation rooted in their financial struggle. However, over the years after their break up Lucy was able to pivot to create a more stable financial situation for herself. While in all that time John stood unchanged and in the same financial position .The film seemed to attempt to glamorize the notion of struggling love, but it ultimately did a poor job of portraying the complexities and realities of such relationships. Instead of presenting a nuanced exploration of love and personal growth, it offered a simplistic resolution that undermined the characters' journeys. The ending felt like a disservice to the story that had been carefully crafted up to that point, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and a lingering belief that true love should not be reduced to a fairytale ending without addressing the underlying issues that had caused the initial heartbreak.

The scene near the end of the film, where Lucy waits for John in the park and gets a call from her boss offering her a promotion, left me puzzled. She turns down the offer, seemingly indicating she won't be the main financial provider in her relationship. I thought this decision was irresponsible and quite baffling. Although the film shows her gradually losing passion for her career, it doesn't make sense because John doesn't earn enough to support himself, let alone both of them.

In conclusion, while I recognize the film's intention to spark a conversation about the challenges of modern dating and the superficiality that can accompany it, I believe it ultimately missed the mark. A more nuanced approach, with well-developed characters and a deeper exploration of the themes at hand, could have made for a more compelling and thought-provoking experience.

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