**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**
With two of the busiest actors working today, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, The Drama offers an unconventional storyline for a dramedy, starting with an awkward meet-cute in a coffee shop and slowly convincing the viewer that they’re the perfect couple. When the premise of the movie is revealed, the tone shifts instantly, forcing not only Charlie (Pattinson) to question the morality of his relationship with Emma (Zendaya), but also the audience to question what they would do if put in this situation.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario, Sick of Myself), the movie begins with the couple’s first interaction, where Charlie walks up to Emma to ask her out, not knowing she is deaf in the ear he’s talking towards. When Emma finally realizes this, she gives him a second chance at the interaction, with second chances being a motif throughout the movie. As the movie goes on, we see their lives intertwine almost perfectly, aided by their decision of marriage just two years into the relationship.
The way Borgli fully engrosses you in the story by alternating between Emma and Charlie’s wedding preparations, alongside Zendaya and Pattinson’s unwavering chemistry, makes this a very active viewing experience. Furthermore, the small chaotic flash-forward scenes keep the viewer engaged all the way through by using shock value, which, if used incorrectly, can fall flat, but is used well here.
During a dinner tasting for their wedding, Emma and Charlie, as well as Charlie’s friends from college, Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Heim), decide to play a drinking game where they confess the worst thing they’ve ever done. You would think this would be a fun game to play with someone you’re about to marry, right? This is very much not the case. Emma surprises everyone with her plan of a school shooting while in high school, which was almost carried out.
As the premise unfolded in front of our eyes, the audience at my theater was a mix of gasps, nervous laughter and utter silence. The tone immediately shifts from joyous and tipsy to cold and awkward, shown through Charlie, Mike and Rachel’s reaction to the surprising confession.
As the movie progresses, I couldn’t help contemplating to myself about the morality of school shootings being presented in this way: awkward, strange and almost comedic. School shootings are one of the most prominent issues facing America today, and making a movie where the audience is coerced into sympathizing with Emma as she explains her thought process almost seems off-putting. While Borgli doesn’t seem to make this movie political, focusing more on the actual plot and Charlie’s spiral during this existential crisis, it’s hard to move past the sudden weight of the situation at hand.
The way Zendaya plays this character, who is so emotionally heavy yet seems so controlled on the surface, directly contrasting Pattinson slowly losing his mind, is very interesting to watch.
The use of black comedy with this polarizing topic differs from person to person. Some who have strong opinions on gun ownership in America might not be able to enjoy this movie. Ironically, Charlie is English, giving an entirely different perspective on school shootings, shown by his attempt to justify Emma’s actions throughout the movie.
Overall, Borgli’s creative vision with the use of flashbacks and parallels and ability to make the viewer cringe and feel antsy makes this one of the most fascinating releases of the year so far, and aided by another nuanced Pattinson and Zendaya performance, makes this a great addition to their diverse filmographies.
