In this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025, affection, attachment issues, and animal attraction are thrust into the spotlight, so expect love, commitment, and scenes of a sexual nature. No, it’s not a return to Valentine’s Day, it’s just a week when romance and shaggin’ are the order of the day.
The films on offer include the Dakota Johnson-starring romantic drama, Materialists; the Netflix animated comedy, Fixed; and the body horror, Together. These three films cover various aspects of being in a relationship, being a couple, or being a horny dog.
Plus this week, as the summer blockbuster season starts to wind up, Bob Odenkirk reprises the role of Hutch Mansell for the action film, Nobody 2. The big summer films might be drawing to an end, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for some fisticuffs and maybe the odd explosion or two.
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In cinemas…
Materialists (2025)
First up, in Materialists, Lucy is a matchmaker at a dating agency. She’s good at her job, and even better at managing client expectations, and this has resulted in nine marriages under her watch.
One day, while attending the most recent wedding, Lucy meets potential new client, Harry. He’s suave, sophisticated, and completely loaded.
Minutes after meeting Harry, Lucy bumps into ex-boyfriend, John. He’s cute, and hardworking, but barely has a pot to piss in.
Following the encounters, Lucy and Harry go on a date, while Lucy and John reconnect as friends. Lucy and John previously didn’t work out because he has no money, so it’s unlikely there will be any sparks.
However, as Lucy navigates new developments in her love life, as well as a new challenge in her career, she begins to re-assess what she really wants in a partner. Is materialism as important as love?
Written and directed by Celine Song, Materialists stars Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. The movie is a romantic drama which is new to UK cinemas, and is a beautifully shot, delightfully staged picture which should tempt those who have a thing for romance.
Materialists is very much a picture for the lovers. It brings together three ridiculously attractive people, has them dance around each other for a couple of hours, and provides audiences with some food for thought on relationships, and perfect matches, etc.
Unlike your average romantic picture, Materialists also has a fair bit of substance. The film contains plenty of commentary on the dating scene, including discussions on what matches want, how things can go wrong if people are incorrectly matched, and of course (as the title suggests) the material aspect of being with someone.
Although Materialists is built around three players, this is Dakota Johnson’s film and she leads it well. As Lucy she exudes confidence, and it’s clear why both Harry and John would find her appealing.
Likewise, casting Pedro Pascal as slick millionaire Harry, and Chris Evans as handsome yet fairly broke ex-beau, John also makes sense. The combination of all three really works well for the film.
It’s certainly a picture that is easy to sink into. The movie has a certain swagger and ambience that is hard not to like.
Materialists isn’t perfect, and the pacing does drop a few times here and there, but for the most part it lands right. The film has something to say, and much to like, with Johnson delivering a solid performance.
If the blockbuster season isn’t your thing, and you fancy something different, Materialists could be what you seek. The film might contain three Marvel actors (Madame Web, Mister Fantastic, Captain America) but Materialists is far removed from a superhero affair.
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Now streaming…
Fixed (2025)
Over to streaming now for the adult animated ‘comedy’, Fixed. The movie – directed and co-written Genndy Tartakovsky – features the voice talents of Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, and Fred Armisen, and follows the story of Staffordshire bull terrier hours away from being neutered.
In the movie, Bull is a two-year-old Staffy who likes nothing more than to hump his nanna’s leg. In fact, humping is quite a big thing for Bull, and he sees no problem with it.
However, Bull’s owners have a different opinion on the matter and schedule their dog for castration. In the morning his balls will be whipped off, removing the temptation to rub himself against anything and everything that moves.
With Bull aware of the impending procedure, he hot-foots it to the city, to embark on a wild night. Joined by his friends, Bull makes the most of his freedom, sniffing butts and indulging in a backstreet sex club.
Playing out like a cross between a Ren & Stimpy cartoon and a Ralph Bakshi film, Fixed is an animated tale which is certainly not for the kids. Although, this doesn’t mean it is for everyone else either.
Fixed is instead something of an acquired taste. Some will find the film’s brand of crass humour appealing, while others may opt out within minutes of pressing play.
Put simply: Enjoyment and/or tolerance for this film will largely come down to how much you want to see gags about butt sniffing, schlong slurping, or poop eating. If the sight of a dog chowing down on cat shit isn’t for you, or squirrel slaughter is a step too far, then this film is one to skip.
On a personal level, Fixed certainly didn’t butter my brioche. I found it dreadfully unfunny and largely quite irritating.
Filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky has created various projects I like, including Dexter’s Laboratory, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Samurai Jack, and the Hotel Transylvania movies, but Fixed left me cold. As a dog owner I know our furry friends can be a bit gross from time-to-time, but I don’t need an animated film to drive this home in puerile detail.
Too mature for kids, too immature for adults, Fixed circles a limited age demographic. It’s the sort of film that will have teenagers laughing in the common room, but the older you get the less funny it becomes.
Has Netflix finally gone to the dogs? No, but this isn’t top quality entertainment.
The animation is superb, but the script is lacking and the general premise is doo-doo. Like a freshly laid turd on the lawn, approach with caution.
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In cinemas…
Together (2025)
Back to the cinema now for the slow-burning body horror, Together. Written and directed by Michael Shanks (not that one) and starring real-life spouses, Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the film follows the story of a young couple who find themselves connecting on a whole new level.
In the movie, Tim and Millie have been dating for years. Unfortunately, in recent times their relationship has started to stagnate, leading to an increasing distance developing between the pair.
When Millie gets a new job, the couple move to the countryside, where Millie hopes they can improve things in their love life. An attempt to spend quality time together soon follows, when they go exploring in the woods.
However, an accident soon occurs, with Tim and Millie falling into an underground cave. Forced to spend the night in the darkness, they drink some nearby water, settle in for the night, and climb their way out in the morning.
But something strange appears to have happened to them in the cave. Over the coming days they find it difficult to be apart – quite literally merging into one!
With a story which looks at the problems of long-term relationships, including issues surrounding intimacy and increasing disinterest, Together has the potential to be an excellent horror movie. The idea of a long-term couple becoming a singular entity is quite interesting, and at times the film really hits the mark with what it is attempting to achieve.
Unfortunately, Together doesn’t quite reach the levels it could, so that ‘excellent’ status is ultimately replaced with a ‘very good’, but hey, ‘very good’ is still… well… very good. Together marks the directorial debut for Michael Shanks, and one thing is clear, he’s off to a strong start.
The reason Together doesn’t make it to the lofty heights it’s aiming for is simply because it doesn’t go as hard or as gruesome as it could. It just takes a little too long to get to the icky body horror, and when it does hit the good stuff in the final half-hour, it needs to crank things up a notch.
But that’s it. That’s the only real stumbling block.
Where Together works the best is in the story, and in the casting. Putting a real-life couple on screen, and allowing their natural connection to form the backbone of the picture is a masterstroke.
What’s the best way to sell the ups and downs of being in a relationship? By seeing it through the eyes of those who know each other inside and out.
Franco and Brie have natural chemistry and this helps Shanks to ground the more fantastical sides of his premise. He then uses his lead players to set out his tale, which strikes some interesting notes and has considerable depth.
If you’ve caught the preview trailer for Together, then you may be under the impression this film is a black comedy, or that it goes full-on Cronenberg. It isn’t and it doesn’t.
However, Together is a fairly solid picture. The movie gets to the heart of what ‘togetherness’ can mean, and uses the downside of relationship troubles to form an insightful horror.
A bit more gore would help, as would a few more scares, but it’s still unsettling stuff. Not bad at all.
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In cinemas…
Nobody 2 (2025)
And finally, new to UK and US cinemas this week is the action comedy, Nobody 2. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the film stars Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz, RZA, Colin Hanks, Christopher Lloyd, and Sharon Stone, and picks up a few years after the events of 2021’s breakout hit, Nobody.
In this instalment, former government assassin, Hutch Mansell is on vacation at a resort with his family, when trouble rears its head once again. An incident in an arcade sparks a confrontation, which in turn leads to Hutch making enemies with the locals.
Before long, punches are being thrown, guns are being fired, and chaos ensues. He also uncovers details of a bootlegging operation, and tries not to completely ruin his marriage (or his summer break).
There are films which are designed to lead the summer blockbuster season, and there are those which are better suited to help bring it to a close. Nobody 2 is most definitely arriving at the right time by appearing at the tail end of the season, as this is largely disposable fun ideal for those with 90 minutes to kill and nothing more.
Nobody 2 isn’t must-see, appointment viewing, but those who fancy taking a chance on it will find the film enjoyable enough to meet their needs. Odenkirk is on fine form, there’s plenty of explosive action, the plot is in no way taxing, and there’s some interesting comments about the toll all this fighting takes on Hutch’s home life.
Could it go further? Most definitely, but it’s serviceable and sometimes that’s enough.
The pace drops a little in places, and the concept lacks some of the freshness which made the original stand out, but there’s nothing particularly bad about what is on offer. Nobody 2 is a likeable action romp, which serves up enough entertainment to hold your interest between mouthfuls of popcorn.
How long this series will go on for is anyone’s guess, but this one is fine. Enjoy at your leisure.
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Movie of the Week
OK, that’s your lot this week, so let’s move swiftly onto Movie of the Week, which goes to Michael Shanks’ body horror, Together. The film is a deliciously dark tale not for the faint of heart, with some neat commentary about relationships thrown into the mix.
And if you like Together you may also like:
- Somebody I Used to Know (2023) – Dave Franco directs, while Alison Brie stars in this romantic comedy about a workaholic who reminisces about the past.
- The Fly (1986) – Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis lead this creepy body horror in which a scientist slowly transforms into a fly.
- Men (2022) – Jessie Buckley stars in this surreal folk horror about a widow who is tormented by strange men in her village, who all look exactly the same.
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Forthcoming attractions
That’s it for yet another week, but coming soon Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Paul Freeman, and Richard E. Grant join director Chris Columbus for The Thursday Murder Club. The movie is based on the 2020 novel by Richard Osman, and focuses on a group of elderly amateur sleuths who set out to solve a murder.
The Thursday Murder Club drops onto Netflix in a couple of weeks, and will be reviewed here shortly. So, be sure to come back for this and much more.
Alex
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