Who approved this?
Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are two of the most interesting stars we have. Seeing them together on screen should be an event. Instead, Kristoffer Borgli’s ‘The Drama’ is the kind of project that makes you wonder what were they thinking?.
The premise sounds like a romantic drama with spark: an engaged couple (he a curator, she an editor) sees their world crumble after a secret from the past. Until then, good.
The problem is not what, but how
It turns out that Emma’s (Zendaya) secret is that, at age 15, she planned an attack at her school. He never did, he became an activist… but whatever. The script uses this as the obstacle to their relationship.
“He’s obviously not the person you thought he was,” a friend comments.
There is the first blunder. Using a real and still open social tragedy as a plot device in what is billed as a “sexy romantic comedy” is not risky. It’s in bad taste.
The chemistry between Pattinson and Zendaya is conspicuous by its absence. They feel more like awkward siblings than a couple in love whose world is falling apart. And when the central conflict is so heavy, that initial lack of connection kills any dramatic tension.
Borgli tries to wring humor out of the wedding preparations—photographers, florists, an overly intense dance instructor—but they are cheap shots that don’t offset the overall tone. There’s even a moment where Charlie throws away Emma’s mug that says “Coffee or I shoot.” It’s supposed to be ironic. It’s just uncomfortable.
The film wants to be a satire on how much we really know our partners. A legitimate topic. He could have used infidelity, a financial lie, a minor criminal past… Anything but this. By choosing a planned school shooting as the trigger, the film crosses a line and never recovers.
In the end, ‘The Drama’ is a double waste: of two fantastic actors and an opportunity to tell something with real depth. It remains on the surface of a deep topic, offering neither genuine laughs nor compelling drama.
One star out of four. And being generous.
