Susan Trombetti has built a career bringing romance to some of Hollywood’s most eligible stars. So when The Materialists — a darkly glossy satire about high-end matchmaking starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal — hit screens, it was only natural to wonder: how much of the story is grounded in reality?
“Matchmaking isn’t as glamorous as the movie portrays,” Trombetti said. “What it shows is more of what I’d call the sexy allure of the job. After seeing this, people will be flocking to us submitting résumés left and right because the film makes it look so cool.”
While she admits there is a certain appeal to the world the movie captures, Trombetti says the profession and industry often involves navigating complex emotional terrain while working with highly selective clients who “can’t get out of their own way.”
According to Trombetti, the film gets one thing surprisingly right: the absurdity of modern dating.
“That’s not just for dramatic effect because some singles really can be that picky,” she says. “Sometimes it borders on the absurd, and the movie actually nailed that part. It wasn’t a dramatic license.”
According to Trombetti, being a matchmaker often means stepping into the role of therapist, providing constant emotional support and guidance.
“There’s no cake or champagne when someone gets engaged,” she said. “There’s just a quiet sense of happiness for the couple. It’s not all party hats and glamour.”
But some of the darker themes in The Materialists also left Trombetti unsettled.
“I was appalled by the idea that sexual assault is treated as commonplace in matchmaking,” she said. “I’ve never seen or heard of that happening. And stalking clients? That just doesn’t happen either.”
Privacy, too, plays a more serious role in real matchmaking than the film suggests. Trombetti said not all couples send wedding invitations, because some couples wish to keep the fact that they used a matchmaker confidential.
She’s also candid about the emotional cost of the work, and the risk of burnout.
“There’s a lot of relational labor when you are the emotional caretaker of your client, and it can take a real toll,” she said, adding that she protects herself from burnout by being selective about the clients she takes on and relying on her team. “Burnout is real in this industry — especially when you try to do it all alone.”
And when it comes to Hollywood endings, Trombetti had a word of advice for Chris Evans’ character in particular.
“In real life, most women would never pick the broke guy,” she laughed. “Sorry, Chris, but women aren’t as much into looks as they are into financial stability. They may not need someone to be ulta-rich, but good looks only go so far.”
For anyone wondering if the sparks on screen could ignite something off screen — Pedro Pascal is single, and Dakota Johnson recently split from Chris Martin — so maybe in real life they could get together.
If either of them need help finding love, Trombetti and Exclusive Matchmaking are just a call away.
