Is Materialists woke?

Clear woke themes are present and intentional, but feel balanced and organic to the story. The message supports the plot and characters rather than dominating them.

Wokeness Analysis

Materialists (2025), directed by Celine Song and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, centers on a New York matchmaker navigating a love triangle between her wealthy suitor and struggling ex-boyfriend. The film critiques the transactional, materialistic nature of modern dating and relationships under capitalism, highlighting how financial status, height, and social expectations influence romantic choices. This includes explorations of women's autonomy in prioritizing security versus genuine connection, and a subplot involving a client's experience with assault in the dating scene that prompts reflection on professional ethics and personal accountability. While these elements draw from contemporary social realities and feature a diverse supporting cast in terms of ethnicity and background, they serve the core romantic comedy-drama plot rather than dominating it with overt ideology. The narrative balances cynicism about status-driven pairings with a resolution favoring emotional authenticity, without heavy-handed lectures on gender, race, or systemic oppression. Director Song's approach echoes her prior work in examining personal relationships amid broader societal pressures, but the messaging remains integrated into character-driven storytelling. No explicit progressive activism on topics like identity politics or intersectionality appears; instead, it offers subtle commentary on evolving gender roles in a hyper-competitive urban environment. This places it in the noticeable but balanced category of modern sensibilities.

Plot

Lucy Mason, a former actress turned successful matchmaker at a high-end New York firm, cynically navigates clients' unrealistic standards while grappling with her own romantic life. She attends a client's wedding where she reconnects with her broke ex-boyfriend John, an aspiring actor working as a cater-waiter, and attracts the attention of wealthy financier Harry. Torn between the security Harry offers and lingering feelings for John, Lucy confronts the commodification of love, a client's assault incident that shakes her professional world, and personal revelations about superficial attractions like wealth and physical attributes. The story culminates in choices prioritizing authentic connection over material checkboxes.