‘Materialists’ Is Nothing Like Your Average Rom-Com

The most compelling parts of Celine Song’s new film lie not in a classic love triangle, but in a poignant observation of modern dating culture.

Midway through screening “Materialists,” the follow-up to Celine Song’s Oscar-nominated “Past Lives,” I realize I have the A24 romantic comedy all wrong — partly because the movie is a bit too serious to fit, say, the Nora Ephron standard of rom-coms.

Another reason is that the film’s vague synopsis hardly does justice to the poignant commentary you discover at the heart of it.

In “Materialists,” a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself caught between Mr. Right and an imperfect ex. That premise plays out clearly in the film’s glittering trailer, which stars Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans in a simmering love triangle that looks like it would swell to the typical dramatic stakes most would expect from a romantic drama.

At least that’s what I thought.

But after watching “Materialists,” which is now streaming on HBO Max, I found that a far more compelling narrative side-stepped that familiar trope — one that thoughtfully explores the perils of love and relationships, as well as the shift in today’s dating culture. That was a smart move on Song’s part, saving the film’s strongest elements for the full viewing experience (something I wish more contemporary movie trailers would do).