Advertisement
Dakota Johnson’s performance in Materialists has captured the attention of both viewers and critics, particularly for her role as a modern-day matchmaker entangled in a love triangle with characters played by Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. While audiences have been drawn to the romance and emotional layers of the film, not everyone is convinced by its portrayal of the matchmaking profession. One of the strongest voices of dissent has come from New York-based dating coach Maria Avgitidis, who believes the film misrepresents what real matchmaking entails.
In a conversation with People Magazine, Avgitidis expressed that Dakota’s character in Materialists doesn’t reflect the values or practices upheld by professionals in her field. With 17 years of experience, she admitted to being surprised at how inaccurately the industry was depicted. Her primary concern was that the character, who seems polished and intuitive on-screen, would be completely out of place in the actual matchmaking world. She highlighted scenes involving poor boundary-setting and even abuse during a first date, noting that such behavior would be unacceptable and lead to immediate dismissal in a real professional setting.
Avgitidis warned fellow matchmakers who might have been planning screenings of the film to manage their expectations, indicating that the narrative sacrifices realism for dramatic flair. From her point of view, the profession requires an ethical and emotionally intelligent approach that the film overlooks in favor of heightened cinematic tension.
On the other hand, director Celine Song stood by her choices and the authenticity of her narrative. She explained that the core of Materialists draws from her own experiences during a stint at the matchmaking company Tawkify. According to Song, the film was meant to explore the often transactional nature of modern dating—where people are treated like commodities in the pursuit of love. She acknowledged that the tone of the movie was intentionally complex, blending humor and darkness to expose the contradictions inherent in dating culture.
This creative tension between real-life expertise and artistic storytelling has sparked a nuanced conversation about how professions are represented in film. While Materialists may not be a faithful manual on matchmaking, it still offers a layered exploration of human connection, attraction, and the compromises people make in search of love—albeit one with more dramatic twists than most real-life love stories.