I Finally Watched Materialists, And We Need To Talk About That Ending Because I Don’t Believe It

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In 2023, during a flight, I happened upon the film “Past Lives” for the first time and found myself captivated by Celine Song’s directing and writing skills. I admired her immensely and felt she was truly talented, so I eagerly anticipated seeing more of her work in Hollywood. Her debut production was nothing short of impressive, which is why I was thrilled when it was announced that “Materialists” would be part of the 2025 movie lineup.

Events transpired that prevented me from attending the theater to catch the movie. Fortunately, I ended up having a solitary evening at home and opted to rent the film since I had been yearning to see this fresh release. To my surprise, it was merely alright. However, the ending left me skeptical – I can’t quite buy into it, and now I’m questioning where the storyline between John and Lucy was headed in its final act.

The Movie Overall Was Fine, And Enjoyable For The Most Part

To begin with, let me clarify that I didn’t dislike the movie. On the contrary, I found myself appreciating most parts of it. As Dakota Johnson pointed out, it transcends the typical “rom-com” genre and offers profound insights about love and life. It’s a film that I believe many people would find appealing. In my opinion, marketing it predominantly as a rom-com might have been a misstep since it could lead audiences to expect a conventional romantic comedy rather than something more substantial.

In simpler terms,

The first three-quarters of the movie were brilliantly done. The concept of a matchmaker with a negative outlook on love, who then struggles to find connection while reconnecting with someone from her past, is truly compelling. This material seems exceptionally promising. However, it’s the ending that left me unsatisfied, as I find it hard to accept.

I Just Can’t See Lucy And John Staying Together Very Long

I’m quite fond of love stories that offer a fresh start. There’s even an entire literary genre dedicated to them. However, in this particular case, I found it hard to suspend my disbelief and fully appreciate the story. I believe the issue might stem from a few factors combined together.

1. Financial problems often cause difficulties in many relationships. Although John mentioned he’d become more involved with catering and similar duties, I don’t think Lucy has yet fully grasped financial matters enough to appreciate this change from John.
2. In the end, her skepticism about John not having enough money may linger due to her past experiences and their history together.

1. Money troubles are a common challenge in relationships, including theirs. Despite John’s promise to take on more catering and related tasks, Lucy hasn’t demonstrated significant financial understanding to fully appreciate this effort from John.
2. Given her past experiences and the history they share, I suspect Lucy will remain doubtful about John’s ability to provide financially for her in the long run.

1. To clarify, we didn’t witness much of their relationship development.
2. I found the wedding scene in the end credits at the courthouse adorable, but I’m puzzled about their connection.
3. We did catch glimpses of their arguments, yet the tender moments or reasons that led them to reconcile remain unclear.
4. As a spectator, understanding these aspects would add depth to their relationship.

From my perspective, consider it similar to flipping through the pages of a book – when you encounter the struggles and hardships of the protagonist’s past relationship, naturally, you wouldn’t wish for the story’s heroine to rekindle things with the antagonist.

If she had wound up with any person other than Pedro Pascal’s character, I would have been just as content. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was an ordinary guy like Joe Schmo from the street. Given that we were shown only their turbulent moments and not their good ones, their relationship seems hard to accept as real.

They Don’t Feel Like They’re In Love, And That’s The Big Thing

The main problem lies in the fact that Lucy seems to lack a strong connection with John. Critics often described the movie “Materialists” as rather cynical, and it indeed carries that tone. However, what stands out is that Lucy’s chemistry seems more suited for Harry (Pascal). This could be an issue given that she admitted not having feelings for him, and he reciprocated.

Why do I feel that Lucy and John weren’t meant for each other, given their connection was as dull as a cheap sparkler from Walmart? On the contrary, it seems like Lucy and Harry have the kind of passion you’d find in those expensive fireworks you buy when traveling to that unique store outside of town.

I find myself puzzled. Could it be that there’s something off about this film, given my experiences? After all, I’ve been through a lot of romantic turmoil in the past that may have left me jaded. When penning a romantic movie, please take my suggestion seriously – ensure the final couple truly appears to be deeply in love, not merely settling. Goodness gracious, I could use something refreshing now!

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2025-08-08 14:10