the story of three people and a love that spans decades, shown over three different time periods. It was a thoughtful and beautiful film that explored love, relationships, and the passage of time, earning a Best Picture nomination and a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Now, Song is back. This is another story about love and relationships, again released in the middle of summer. This is another story of three people trying to find that right relationship, featuring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. Materialists opens wide on Friday, providing a bit of counter-programming the blockbuster-heavy season.

In the film, Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a young and successful matchmaker. But while she’s landed the right relationship for many clients, she’s still not found that true love for herself. That’s if she even believes in it. Early on, we learn that Lucy sees marriage as a transaction and love as something of a luxury. It isn’t long before those takes come into question.

At the wedding of one of her clients, she encounters two options. The first is Harry (Pedro Pascal), the brother of the groom. He’s rich, smooth, and very interested in her. The other John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor working as a cater/waiter. He and Lucy were involved in the past, in a relationship that lasted five years. But ultimately, she didn’t think his prospects were enough to make it last.

Now, as she’s navigating some interest career waters, Lucy is presented with a personal challenge. Does she return to John, the man she loved but couldn’t quite make the life work, or give in to Harry, who is the perfect option on paper.

Song is a gifted writer/director who is clearly interested in love and relationships. That deep dive was haunting in her first film. It was a deeply emotional gut punch that resonated long after I left the theater. I was curious how she would follow that up.

Turns out, she manages to tap into something resonant here with Materialists. It’s something of a commentary on our contemporary world, our cultural values, and the dating landscape. But it dares to ask the question of what love is worth? This isn’t a perfect film, and it doesn’t achieve the emotional heights of Past Lives, but it is an engaging and moving watch.

Johnson does a nice job in the lead role. You can see her working out these options and pouring into this journey as Lucy. Pascal is fine in the role as Harry, but the character lacks depth. That’s what keeps this from being a true romantic triangle as in her last film.

Evans is likeable and charismatic as John. The film also spends more time providing their backstory and giving him more depth. That helps make the ultimately conclusion here somewhat obvious, but this kind of movie is more about the journey than the destination. This feels like a journey worth taking.

Materialists is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.