“The Drama,” the new film starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, follows the pairing as they prepare for their upcoming wedding. However, while at a dinner with some friends, Zendaya’s character Emma opens up and tells them a shocking secret about something she did in her past.
A romantic comedy set in Boston, “The Drama” follows the soon-to-be-married Charlie and Emma as they deal with the unexpected news just days before their wedding. The groom, Charlie (Pattinson) grapples with what he has just learned about his fiancee and develops cold feet.
Throughout the movie, there are some eye catching editing moments and tense onscreen spats between characters. All of this is intended to turn up the heat on the brewing tension between Emma and the people around her. Things reach a boiling point near the end of the film where every moment hinges on uncomfortability.
The performances are never over the top and everything is grounded in reality. All the moments between characters do feel very real, like this type of scenario could happen to any of us.
Photos courtesy of A24
The movie raises some interesting questions surrounding forgiveness and acceptance. Where do we draw the line on what people can be forgiven for? Zendaya’s secret is related to a uniquely American phenomenon. However, having a Black woman at the center of this does flip the traditional narrative of these types of events.
Viewers are also confronted with seeing their partner in a new light, or reckoning with the idea that the person who you thought was the love of your life might not actually be that. Some couples who go to see this movie might walk out of the theater with some lingering questions about one another.
“The Drama” is similar to the 2019 film “Waves,” a coming of age movie that follows the aftermath of a young man who did something terrible whose family reels from the fallout. The studio that distributed “Waves” and “The Drama” is A24, the independent production and distribution company known for highlighting less traditional Hollywood films.
Zendaya is also set to star in various movie and television releases this year. She will be continuing her role as Rue in the third season of “Euphoria.” She is also starring in an adaptation of “The Odyssey” and returning to her roles in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and “Dune: Part Three.”
Zendaya has also expressed interest in working with Ryan Coogler in the future. In a recent interview on the “Jennifer Hudson Show,” she expressed her admiration for Coogler and what he represents.
“For years I’ve felt this way since ‘Fruitvale Station’ because I thought that was such a beautiful and powerful film. But I’m from Oakland too and I remember when that happened. And so he means so much to the world but he also means so much to us,” said Zendaya.
Released on April 3, “The Drama” debuted as the third best-selling movie in its first weekend and made $28 million globally. For more info, visit a24films.com/films/the-drama.