David’s Download: The Drama Review
The Drama from A24 marks the beginning of the Zendaya-ssance in 2026, but I can’t imagine any of the actress’ blockbusters this year will stir as much controversy as this dark romantic dramedy.
In the movie, directed by Kristoffer Borgly, Zendaya plays Emma, the bride-to-be of Charlie (Robert Pattinson). During the final food and wine tasting for their upcoming wedding, the happy couple, along with their best friends Rachel and Mike, decide to go around the table and reveal the worst thing each of them has ever done. However, when Emma reveals her dark secret, Charlie and their friends are faced with a moral dilemma that could derail the entire wedding.
Without spoiling any specifics, Emma never actually committed the atrocity she talks about, but came extremely close to doing so. Even though she does a lot of good in her life after this period of moral corruption, Emma’s confession is going to be tough for audiences to stomach, let alone find humor in later.
For the most part, I am fairly unbothered by corrupt characters and dark subject matter, but The Drama’s central conflict pushes the limits of provocation and distastefulness when it comes to comedy, especially given how the movie was marketed. While director Borgly wrings a few laughs out of cringey scenarios that follow Emma’s reveal - the first scene with the wedding photographer for example - the jokes run out of steam pretty quickly and become repetitive.
Although I feel the movie falls short in the rom-com department (can it even be considered one?), the ideas it explores - such as where we draw the line with our loved ones and how people outside of your relationship perceive you - are thoroughly engaging. In fact, I would argue that the movie needs such a shocking and unique revelation at its center to work and hold viewers’ attention.
I would also argue that the movie doesn’t work without Zendaya at its center, even if casting a likeable actress adds to the discourse around the twist. She gives an Oscar-worthy performance, dynamically teetering between anxiety, anger, helplessness and charm, that makes the whole picture easier to swallow.
Opposite Zendaya, Pattinson does a great job as the audience’s surrogate, perfectly capturing the confusion, panic, and over-rationalization one might experience in a situation like this.
Overall, I think The Drama achieves exactly what it sets out to do - cause some DRAMA. Go see it if you’re the kind of person who likes to read arguments in the comments on Facebook, or if you slow down and crane your neck out the window when passing a crime scene or car accident.