Before many of us watched Celine Song’s Materialists, we imagined we’d want Dakota Johnson’s Lucy to choose Pedro Pascal’s Harry in the end. Pascal is charming, delightful, and an incredible actor. Plus, Chris Evans has already played leads where he gets the girl in the end, so it’d be okay if he didn’t this time. But the moment Evans delivers John’s romantic declaration at the wedding, it’s clear as day why she chooses him and how Song’s words manifest because of the sincerity and vulnerability woven into the fabric of every word.
Those of us who read (or write) romance novels believe in love. No matter how cynical we might get at times or how the world tries to flush it out of us, we believe in this all-consuming, overwhelmingly powerful emotion that can connect us in a way that sometimes robs us of words. Understandably, some people don’t. But in order for the words to feel right and strike hard in fiction, those of us writing it and those performing it need to believe in what they’re saying. And there’s no doubt about the fact that Chris Evans believes it, ensuring that John’s words hit with all the gravitas necessary to make Materialists work.
It’s not always big, flowery words—though there’s a space for poetry, let’s make that clear—but sometimes it’s simply about what fits the characters and how real the execution feels. There’s a reason that one of the most memorable lines in Ted Lasso is Roy Kent’s “You deserve someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by f—king lightning.” (Season 2, Episode 1, “Goodbye, Earl.”) It’s not only because of Brett Goldstein’s moving delivery, but it’s because it resonates with people who are in Rebecca Welton’s shoes. At the same time, like with Evans’ declaration, it feels natural and honest.
The audience members who find it impactful find hope in the promises that come from John’s desire to see a future with Lucy. His belief that there’s something bigger here than a first love. His belief that every fight they’ve ever gotten into was worth it. His belief that he wouldn’t change a thing because of all that they’ve experienced and will experience is all that he wants in life. There’s an argument right now that the film is essentially broke man propaganda, but I’d argue that it’s about exploring how different people need different things.
Someone like Harry is indeed the ideal candidate for countless women, but he’s most certainly not it for Lucy. He checks all her materialist boxes, but as she tells him, neither of them loves each other. And love isn’t necessarily about growing old with people, but rather, it’s about feeling something that you can’t put into words. Love is about the willingness to compromise on all your lists because none of it matters without the person standing beside you. Love is about John’s willingness to pick up more commercials even though he doesn’t like them. Is it perfect? No. He should’ve wanted to do these things before Lucy, but at the same time, sometimes you have to lose someone to realize that you can’t live without them, and in many ways, Chris Evans’ monologue hits because it’s full of the yearning that’s built up in the years they were apart from each other, as well as the days they were together. It hits because it’s a long time coming and not at all shocking, and because throughout the film, Song has shown us all the ways in which John and Lucy are perfectly suited for each other.
Materialists is now available for digital purchase.
First Featured Image Credit: ©A24