‘The Drama’ Review: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson Go Rogue In The Most Unhinged Rom-Com Of The Year

It’s the year of Zendaya, I am telling you this upfront. “The Drama” not only reinstates her as the queen of acting chops, defying every possible genre and platform, but also reminds you why she is a solid force to reckon with.

I went into watching the film with little to no information. Stayed away from the blogs, threads and stacks (that’s what I am told the kids are jumping on to these days) to have a virginal experience of watching Kristoffer Borgli’s “The Drama.” 

The aesthetics leading up to the film have been stellar. Clean frames, close-up shots, muted colors, and beats and synths that sound like they have character. The film’s leads are two of the world’s most famous faces, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. First off, whoever decided to pursue and cast these two together, big props.

Not since the 1995 Richard Linklater classic “Before Sunrise” have I been impressed with such an organic and satisfying casting decision. Much like that film, “The Drama,” too, revolves around two characters, Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya). We meet them early on. Their first brush is awkward and goofy and we are immediately invested in their lives. Charlie and Emma are in love. Oh, they are so madly in love. They can’t keep their hands off each other. We get to know their quirks, their likes, dislikes and pet peeves, almost as if it were a day-in-the-life series.

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But the introduction doesn’t last too long. Emma and Charlie are getting married. A dinner date with friends ends up in a game of reveals where everyone has to tell the other the worst thing they have ever done. No judgments? That’s what we feel is the tone at the table, until we hear Emma’s confession. Seconds leading into her confession change the course of the film and, from a rom-com, Borgli shifts gears and takes us into this eerie, uncomfortable space of not knowing what happens next.

Emma’s past creeps up on Charlie like a shadow refusing to leave his side. The very thought of “Do I know this person?” doesn’t just linger but haunts most of the premise, leading up to one of the finest written climaxes in recent times. Mind you, the film doesn’t get boring at any point. It plays with your mind, throwing one scene after another laced with unpredictable meltdowns, stripping away any superficial coating and exposing deep cuts and wounds.

But “The Drama” is also a lot of fun. Yes, a film about a couple on the brink of marriage, discovering something from their past is such a smart plot. We have seen movies around marriage and its many shades of angst, separation and strife in the recent past. But I can’t think of a premise so smartly written about the dichotomy of the human mind and what it goes through, and what it is capable of conjuring in the oddest of situations.

Robert Pattinson is winning every nomination in the drama category for this film. Come awards season, he will battle heavyweights, for sure; but his presence on the circuit, come 2027, is a given. The messed-up hair, his body language, the way he uses his jaw and face to express the different emotions Charlie goes through, is outstanding. After carrying the heavy baggage of “The Twilight Saga” for years, it’s refreshing to see him go all in on a role that gives him scope to showcase his range. Zendaya is special. There is an honesty and sincerity in her eyes, especially in the close-up shots. She is raw and unhinged in “The Drama” and is an absolute treat.

This film is a rollercoaster ride. It isn’t perfect. It is lengthy and there are some parts that feel overindulgent. There are also a few jokes and gags that feel forced. But there is never a dull moment. Just when you start to slack, there comes a twist and an unexpected turn that pulls you right back in. 

Music plays a very important part in how you consume this experience. Chords and bass lines interject, vocals soar while silence reigns. These elements create drama in some of the least expected moments in the film. Editing is also a major highlight of the film. The way Borgli jumpcuts to the past and present and creates these bizarre scenes is definitely interesting. There are many trippy frames that are all aligned to give you an experience that’s one hell of a visual overload. 

“The Drama” delivers what the title promises. Yes, it isn’t perfect. Yes, it is skin-crawlingly nauseating at times. But does it take you on a ride? For sure. It is also a great start to the Zendaya Movie Marathon this year and also a gentle reminder of the acting treasure chest that is Robert Pattinson.