The Drama: A Relationship on the Brink
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Charlie (Robert Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) appear to have it all: a stylish Boston apartment, successful careers – he’s a museum curator, she’s an editor at a prestigious publishing house – and a wedding on the horizon. But beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect relationship lies a secret that threatens to unravel everything.
A Troubling Revelation
The film kicks off with Charlie nervously rehearsing his wedding toast, revealing a somewhat contrived meet-cute. However, a jarring scene in a coffee shop, filmed with unsettling jump cuts, hints at a deeper unease. As the wedding day approaches, a shocking revelation during a pre-wedding dinner game of confessions throws their world into turmoil. Emma confesses to a dark contemplation from her teenage years: a plan for a school shooting.
This isn’t a simple “twist”; it’s the foundational premise of the film. As a troubled teen, Emma (played by Jordyn Curet in flashbacks) was seduced by the online glamorization of gun violence, even bringing her father’s shotgun to school before ultimately abandoning the plan and becoming an anti-gun-violence activist.
The Fallout and Uncomfortable Truths
The revelation understandably destabilizes Charlie, but the film’s critique lies in how it’s handled. Instead of a genuine, heartfelt conversation, Charlie and Emma attempt to power through, maintaining a facade of normalcy. Their attempts at normalcy are painfully awkward, captured in forced smiles during wedding photoshoots. Their intimacy wanes, leading to a fizzled sex life and explosive arguments sparked by seemingly innocuous objects, like a coffee mug with a provocative slogan.
Both begin to act out at work, further straining their connection. Emma sabotages a professional collaboration, while Charlie makes a bizarre confession of his own. By the time their wedding day arrives, both are consumed by paranoia and self-doubt.
A Critique of High-Concept Cinema
“The Drama,” like Kristoffer Borgli’s previous film “Dream Scenario,” falls into a common trap of high-concept feel-bad movies: prioritizing provocative ideas over genuine character exploration. The film’s focus on the social discomfort surrounding Emma’s revelation overshadows a deeper understanding of her motivations and inner life. What drove her to contemplate such a horrific act? The flashbacks offer only fleeting glimpses, hinting at feelings of alienation as a mixed-race student in a private school, but lack substantial depth.
Zendaya delivers an appealing performance, but Emma remains largely a plot device – a “manic pixie school shooter,” as some might glibly put it. The film seems more interested in mining the discomfort of the revelation for comedic effect than in genuinely addressing the complexities of gun violence and its impact.
Pattinson’s Performance and the Film’s Core
Robert Pattinson shines as Charlie, embracing the role of a neurotic and insecure man. He excels at portraying Charlie’s self-lacerating vulnerability. However, even his strong performance can’t fully compensate for the script’s shortcomings.
Borgli, as an outsider looking at American gun culture, raises valid questions, but his approach lacks curiosity. The film’s title itself is a commentary on its tonal instability, blurring the lines between satire, rom-com, and cringe comedy. Ultimately, “The Drama” feels incomplete, lacking a clear message or a compelling emotional core. It leaves the audience questioning whether to root for the couple or anticipate their inevitable downfall.
As Slate points out, the film’s reliance on a shocking plot point feels like a superficial game, not unlike the one proposed in the movie itself.
