This film, rated R, has been marketed as a romantic comedy and stars the singer and actress Zendaya and the British actor Robert Pattison in the lead roles. I would call this a dark comedy, as things go quickly from good to bad for the engaged couple (Emma and Charlie) as they plan their wedding. The film is abrupt in its pacing, with the first third showing the meet cute and whimsy of Emma and Charlie’s origin story and then it completely changes tone as we watch things unravel. This is the point of the script, apparently, and yet the downward descent is so swift that the potential nuance around what has happened is partially lost.
There is plenty to criticize about “The Drama”, and yet in a voyeuristic way I confess to enjoying watching the spectacle of the couple’s unraveling as love, ego, and pre-conceived notions collide. Clocking in at just 1 hour and 40 minutes, the film manages to provoke genuine reflection on a challenging subject, balance its darker themes with moments of humor, and still offer a sense of entertainment.
The film unfolds in New York City, with a backdrop of upscale restaurants and apartments where Emma, Charlie and their two best friends (Rachel and Mike) live and work. The four are gathered at a tasting to select wines for the upcoming wedding. They challenge each other to share the worst thing they have ever done, supposedly in a non-judgmental friendship space.
When Emma reveals her worst thing, it involves the planning of a gun-related school crime as a teen. Her two friends and fiancé gasp in shock as she speaks of this event from her past. They wonder if she is kidding. Although the crime never succeeded to fruition, Charlie, Rachel and Mike react strongly to Emma’s revelation once they realize it is true. As each processes their reactions, Emma must navigate the fall-out.
Zendaya the versatile two-time Emmy Award-Winning actress, shines in these moments of candor, regret and dismay, as those closest to her now feel as if they never really knew her. Robert Pattison (Charlie) gives a nuanced performance as he tries, with great trouble, to sort out his feelings about what happened in Emma’s past. Rachel (Alana Haim) has a family member who was injured by gun violence and her shock becomes anger and moral outrage. Haim (“Licorice Pizza”) is riveting to watch in her rage.
The rest of the movie follows this early sharing over drinks between friends and much more happens as the wedding date draws nearer. Some of it is truly comedic, much of it is way over the top, and aspects of the later scenes feel downright uncomfortable. There’s a strong dose of schadenfreude as one disaster seems to lead to another, all stemming back to Emma’s revelation.
Themes of bullying, school shootings, loyalty and redemption are explored, but mostly in a topical fashion. This film misses the opportunity to take the exploration deeper, even though the surface treatment is thought provoking. How well do we really know those close to us, and does a single action (as horrific as it may be) years ago change our understanding of who this person is now? The movie toggles between these serious topics and goofball consequences, as we wonder whether the wedding between Emma and Charlie will proceed.
The film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli, a Norwegian filmmaker who began his career making short, experimental works in Norway before moving into feature films that have since earned him international recognition. In this film, he addresses issues of gun violence that are deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the United States.
