There’s little doubt that Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are two of the biggest stars of their generation. And both can be counted on to make interesting choices in projects, whether it’s a summer blockbuster or a quirky indie. So, what do you get when they team up with Dream Scenario director Kristoffer Borgli with the added bonus of backing from A24? You get The Drama.
The Drama stars Zendaya and Pattinson as Emma and Charlie, a couple who are very much in love and are in the process of planning their wedding. While wine-and-food tasting with their Best Man and Maid of Honor (Mamoudou Athie and Alana Haim, respectively), the drunken group decides to each tell the worst thing they’ve ever done. And it’s all fun and games…until they get to Emma. Emma’s confession rocks the group to its core. It derails the wedding planning and even makes Charlie question whether Emma is the person he thinks she is.
Talking or writing about The Drama is difficult because Emma’s secret is both a huge spoiler and a massive plot point. It’s something that should be learned organically by seeing the movie instead of hearing about it second-hand, but it also drives everything in the movie after it’s revealed. So, if this review sounds like it’s tiptoeing around a bit, that’s why.
On a related note, the marketing for The Drama has, so far, been brilliant. It makes the potential viewer want to see the movie without giving up any of its secrets. Well done, A24.
Now, on to the movie. What Kristoffer Borgli has done is essentially take a fairly common occurrence – the planning of a wedding – and inject a high level of drama and unpredictability into it. And this goes beyond simple catering issues or no-show photographers. Borgli takes the viewer on a roller coaster of will-they-or-wont-they that seems to run through every emotion imaginable. The film’s purpose seems to be to make the audience uncomfortable. There’s anger, anxiety, hurt, and betrayal, all wrapped up in the sheep’s clothing of a romantic comedy.
And yes, it is a comedy. Although Emma’s secret is not in the slightest bit funny, Borgli has a way of making it so absurd that the audience can’t help but laugh. It’s uncomfortable laughter, but laughter, nonetheless. Using flashbacks and imagination sequences, Borgli pushes the boundary of linear storytelling in a way that manages to be both confusing and eye-opening. The rapid-fire editing has the viewer questioning what is real and what is not, but only for a second. Borgli lets them off the hook soon enough. There’s no deception, only surreal glimpses into the characters’ minds.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson inject life into Borgli’s script. Both turn in memorable performances individually, but more importantly, their chemistry really helps to sell the movie. Whether they’re fighting or loving, both characters are relatable and sympathetic. Also of note is the performance of Alana Haim, whose character is anything but sympathetic, but she makes for the closest thing The Drama has to a physical antagonist. She makes the audience feel sympathy for Mamoudou Athie, her husband in the film, who is just trying to keep the peace (usually unsuccessfully).
In addition to being a dark-as-night comedy, The Drama is also a thinker. This movie will stay with you after the credits roll, but in a more optimistic and hopeful way than one might think. It is sometimes a difficult film, and it may even be triggering for some audiences. There are different levels and layers, and while it does have its flaws, the good vastly outweighs the bad. In the end, the levels and layers are effective at doing what Borgli seemingly has set out to do, which is start a conversation. What that conversation is about will be completely up to the viewer.
See The Drama while you can still see it fresh, for a couple of reasons. First, to avoid the major plot device being spoiled. And second, it’s just a timely movie. It has a lot to say, and it says it very well.
GRADE: B+
Rating: R
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
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