Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, And Pedro Pascal Are A Press Tour Masterclass For ‘Materialists’

When I graduated college in 2012 and started my first full-time job, pop culture was at a pinnacle I now find myself nostalgic for.

That year gave us Taylor Swift’s Vogue interview turned cookie baking invitation to Karlie Kloss (read: she asked her on a date). The Twilight Saga came to an awkward close in the wake of the media circus surrounding photographs of Kristen Stewart kissing Rupert Sanders while she was still in a relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson. Donald Trump later tweeted about the scandal, which then became part of Stewart’s epic SNL monologue years later when she officially came out to the public.

Last but not least, Jennifer Lawrence became America’s sweetheart virtually overnight, with a blockbuster breakout in The Hunger Games, an Oscar-winning performance in Silver Linings Playbook, and a slew of witty, self-deprecating quips on the late night television circuit that redefined a successful press tour for the era. I found myself watching clips of her interviews non-stop during coffee breaks, which led my barista to ask if I was a big ‘David Letterman’ fan. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how this interaction fit into my own coming out story.

Eventually, after a few flops and media over-exposure, Lawrence fell out of favor, took a break from Hollywood and started a family, and in the vacuum she left behind, the ripple effects of the #MeToo movement, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 Writer’s Strike transformed the media landscape.

What we were left with were press tour nightmares of the likes of It Ends With Us, Emilia Pérez, and Madame Web. Even the Wicked interviews got more coverage from being awkward than enjoyable, and with the exception of the legendary Keke Palmer, it seemed like Hollywood had lost its charm, and more importantly it’s sense of humor.

TL;DR: Did everyone forget what they learned in the improv classes they took before they “made it” in movies?

Which brings me to Materialists and the masterful press junket Dakota Johnson, Chris Evan, and Pedro Pascal are executing perfectly to a T. There’s negging. There’s sass. They don’t actually answer the queue card questions and choose to say something incredibly entertaining instead (bad for politicians, great for actors). It seems like these three actually enjoy each other’s company, but they could hate each other’s guts in real life, and we would still be equally entertained.

They’re actors, promoting the film they’re starring in with their personalities, and…that’s part of the job! Judging from the Madame Web debacle, we can speculate that Dakota Johnson has A) learned from the negative press, B) cares enough about this movie to turn on the charm, or C) actually loves Pedro Pascal and really lets him borrow her clothes.

We may never know the truth, but in this tumultuous news and politics circuit, our TikTok feeds all deserve the level of humor and lightheartedness these three are dishing out.

Check out the best moments from the tour below:

A24 Promo

Everything you need to know about this press junket is summed up perfectly in the first twelve seconds of this video. The accents, the poking fun at each other, the bilingual snark. It’s the perfect, chemistry-fueled invitation to dive down the interview rabbit hole.

Vogue Rapid Fire

The way these two finish each other’s sentences and clearly know enough about the other to execute an effective roast is priceless. Their irreverent discussion about fashion choices and designers brings a level of realness and spontaneity that makes it feel like we’re watching a genuine discussion between two friends and not an interview.

Lad Bible Would You Rather?

We’ve all played this game in some form or fashion, and watching these three hold hands like they’re waiting for the results of a beauty pageant to be announced is pure bliss. The profanity feels genuine and off the cuff, as do the compliments, like Pascal telling Evans he has a “wonderful” body. Overall, anyone who grew up with two siblings knows the push and pull the co-stars exhibit here.

Vanity Fair Lie Detector

Johnson keeps the classic lie detector interview entertaining throughout, whether her answers are long and detailed, or short with a jaunty tone or exaggerated facial expression. Key moments include her admitting to sending ‘a gallon of gorilla shit’ to a friend’s ex-boyfriend, and sharing the name of the website she ordered it from.

When all the laughs are over, we can still head to theaters to watch Celine Song’s Materialists, premiering nationwide June 13.