The Drama

Rating 7/10

There’s something oddly compelling about watching people squirm through an uncomfortable situation.  The Drama is about as generic a title as you can get, but it announces its intentions boldly.  What starts as a breezy relationship story soon escalates into full-on disgrace.

Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson) and Emma Harwood (Zendaya) meet by chance in a café and quickly form a deep connection that leads toward marriage.  As their wedding approaches, the couple navigates the usual pressures while leaning on their close-knit circle of friends.

At their wedding venue, they’re doing a food and wine tasting ahead of the big day.  The drinks flow freely among them and their friends, Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim).  The four fall into a casual round-robin game, each sharing the worst thing they’ve ever done.  What begins as open honesty takes a darker turn when Emma’s answer unsettles Charlie in a way he can’t ignore.  Charlie must now confront unnerving aspects of Emma’s past and question what he truly knows about the woman he’s about to marry.  Tensions mount, and insecurities spill over.  The screenplay raises lingering questions: “How well do we really know our partner?” and “Is love enough to survive that?”

It’s difficult to discuss what makes the movie so fascinating without getting into the specifics of Emma’s revelation.  Yet the narrative hinges on the way that information lands in real time, both for Charlie and for us.  Therefore, I will exercise restraint.  It’s the kind of reveal that immediately invites debate: Is this a deal-breaker, or a matter that can be worked through?

What’s more interesting is the fallout that spreads through the group.  Charlie is indeed shaken, but Rachel, Emma’s maid of honor, is the one who reacts with the most outrage.  It becomes such an issue that I wondered why she retains her key role in the ceremony.  Rachel’s reaction is a catalyst, amplifying Charlie’s uncertainty and pushing him further into doubt.

Charlie has reason to worry, but the dude gets exasperating as the chronicle wears on.  He constantly relies on others, repeatedly seeking their validation, to process a shock that ultimately demands a personal decision.  A pivotal dialogue with coworker Misha (Hailey Benton Gates) spirals into a messy predicament.  That feels intentional, as it illustrates how we often rely on outside opinions.  Nevertheless, his behavior did test my patience.

All of this builds to the reception, where everything comes to a head.  The tightly wound, high-stress sequence tips over into comedy without ever losing its intensity.  The climax is tense and bizarrely funny.  You’re not sure whether to cringe or laugh.  The result is a mixture of both.

The name Kristoffer Borgli probably doesn’t immediately ring a bell; The Drama is only the director’s fourth feature.  That makes the leap from a prickly Norwegian indie like Sick of Myself to landing Zendaya and Robert Pattinson feel like a major coup.  In between, he made a slightly bigger splash with Dream Scenario, a surreal comedy starring Nicolas Cage.  His latest is another high-concept A24 release built around a conversation.  Borgli is developing into a director stars want to take a risk on.

The Drama thrives on discomfort more than resolution.  There are no easy answers.  Let’s watch people unravel from information that’s hard to digest.  It won’t work for everyone.  However, if you’re willing to sit in that tension (and maybe discuss it afterward), the experience is rewarding.

04-07-26