What does match made in heaven mean?
Does dating come down to math calculation or business transaction? Probabilities that add up to certainty when all the superficial boxes are checked?
For men - height, body type, income. For women - age, weight, beauty. That people will likely fall in love and get married based on similarities of socioeconomic factors, political alignment, and well-matched in attractiveness? Is love even needed if someone matches everything in your checklist and can offer you a life of forever comfort, even luxury?
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a successful matchmaker for the Adore agency in New York City. Mid-thirty, stylish, single and cynical, she's responsible for nine marriages. Her secret sauce lies in her math adding up those factors.
At the wedding of one of her clients, there's a telling conversation when the bride breaks down before walking down the aisle. And Lucy, a self-proclaimed judgmental and calculating, may just meet her match in Harry (Pedro Pascal, "Wonder Woman 1984"), the groom's brother. Absurdly rich financier, tall, good-looking with good manners, mature and super stable. In other words, a fantasy. In the matchmaking world, he's called a unicorn and would be very sought-after by her asset-focused clients.
Not to say that her clients aren't picky or irrational. Those who expect to compose their checklists, adding up to a custom-built match, like a house or car or build-a-bear workshop.
Like a 48-year old guy who complains that 21-24 girls are too young for him and wanting an older, more mature woman; as in 27, 28 tops. 39 would be way too old for him, 31 is a no and even 29 is pushing it. Or a woman who insists on a conservative, weekly churchgoer and cat-hating man in Manhattan. Or a man who demands 20 BMI max or a woman who will not even consider any man under 6 feet, even if it's an inch shorter and everything else checks out.
On the other side of the coin, there's John (Chris Evans; "Avengers" series, "Captain America" series, "Red One"). Her ex-boyfriend of five years and they broke up on their fifth year anniversary over a heated argument about the cost of parking and late arrival for restaurant reservation. They broke up because they're broke. Specifically, John, a struggling theater actor in his late 30s trying to make it the city that never sleeps, holding side jobs as a waiter.
The story is not merely a simple love triangle. The emotional plot twist and reveal serve a purpose in the central characters' evolution. Lucy, for taking stock of what she's looking for and making conscious decisions. Harry, beyond his wealth, turns out to not be one dimensional. John, for setting boundaries and asking the hard questions.
People are people. They come as they are and there's no magic wand. Some things you can change, some things are permanent. Either you accept them as they are or you don't. You can't make people love you either, even if they appear to be a great match on paper and in person. You can always strive to be the best version of yourself, still, you can only be who you are.
Material assets, to a certain extent, can be bought. And looks and youth will eventually fade. Beyond physical attributes, income, profession, status, social circle and even similar upbringing, there are always the intangibles. Chemistry, connection, intimacy that are deeply felt but not measurable. And the way someone makes you feel is intangible.
At the end of the day, regardless of the reasons why people couple up and marry, wouldn't you want someone who not only gets you, understands you and accepts you, but also makes you feel deeply and you'll know that they will be by your side until the end of time? That in your lowest or darkest moments of your life, it would be that person you'd call first over anyone else?
When you find the right person, even if they don't check all your must-have requirements, love wouldn't be a struggle. They will love you anyway even if they know who you are when no one's watching and with all your flaws.
"Materialists" masquerades as a light rom-com in trailers. It's a sharp and sincere, germane and poignant examination of modern romance in the materialistic world we live in. Dating may be hard, but the right kind of love will feel easy, even if it's a little messy.
There's one scene in particular where everything is quiet and you'll be flying along in the zone. 
