The Drama (2026)

From acclaimed writer/director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) comes this dark romantic comedy starring Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune's 1 &2) and Robert Pattinson (The Batman, Good Time) as a happily engaged couple whose relationship is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.  Also co-starring Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, and Hailey Gates, let's find out if this highly buzzed about new film from A24 is worth the buzz. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

THE DRAMA - 2026

Directed by Kristoffer Borgli

Starring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Benton Gates, Jordyn Curet, Michael Abbott Jr, YaYa Gosselin, Sydney Lemmon, Anna Baryshnikov, and Zoe Winters

Genre: Romantic Comedy(Audio clip)

The Drama is a sharp, funny, and somewhat twisted romantic comedy....yes it IS a romantic comedy, just like Annie Hall was a romantic comedy or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was a romantic comedy or maybe even White Men Can't Jump was a romantic comedy or even dareIsayit, Love Actually was a romantic comedy.....as GHASTLY as I found that last film to be. 🙄 (For the record, I loved the other three) Like the horror genre, the "rom-com" genre can spread vast and wide as any time-tested genre should. Some basic tenets need to be observed: two key attractive figures trying to connect, a potential threat emerging to their courtship, interesting side characters to add flavor to the overall story, and of course the film needs to at least TRY to be funny. 😉

Gratefully The Drama meets all of those criteria as we are at least initially rooting for the engaged/soon-to-be-married Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) to succeed...until certain threats begin to emerge to their future together and.....it might not go in completely conventional directions which many beloved rom-com's go but I gotta say that I genuinely enjoyed the ride. 🙂 Writer/director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) takes this story on some topically dark detours while still having a generous amount of fun related to inherent drama of the build-up to a wedding. He and this strong cast really do walk a delicate tonal tightrope, maintaining the hijinks while also brushing up against some hot-button issues. 

I am going to be careful to not spoil too much except to say that THE inciting incident which kicks off this titular drama occurs within the first twenty minutes. Emma and Charlie are having a late dinner with another couple whom they are close with and will be in their wedding party - Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie) - and eventually as the drinking increases, they plays a game of each person sitting at the table revealing the absolute WORST thing they have ever done. 🙄 It's the first of several comically uncomfortable sequences in this film as each individual reveals something PRETTY bad and embarrassing - it's a fun table-setter for the movie! And as the last person to tell HER worst, what Emma reveals is apparently SO shocking that it sets off reactions from the others which will reverberate well beyond this evening....

It throws their relationship (and the final plans for the wedding) into turmoil as Charlie becomes preoccupied for what this all means....as does Emma based on Charlie's reaction. Though to be 100% honest, this becomes more about Charlie's personal turmoil and this increasingly becomes more of Pattinson's movie. Gratefully, Pattinson is more than up to the task of playing this slightly nebishy British expat museum curator as a bumbling, dithering headcase as sort of a combination of '90's Hugh Grant and '80's Woody Allen - it never goes too deep but it's still a fun performance! And even though she's given slightly less to do, Zendaya is holding her own too as some one struggling to hold it together herself - we DO explore some of the background of her "secret" via canny flashbacks which are integrated well into the narrative. Their scenes together also have genuine pop whether they're being affectionate with each other or strongly disagreeing. 

Like I said, the cornerstones of any effective rom-com not only include the chemistry between the leads but also those side characters....and/or OBSTACLES which they bump into along the way.  Among those and delivering a couple of comically bizarre moments is Hailey Gates (Challengers, Uncut Gems) whom I swear LOOKS like Emma Stone - but no relation - as an initially inciteful co-worker of Charlie's. 

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

From a music standpoint, this is a relatively quiet film but that doesn’t prevent it from having a subtle theme which helps to maintain a somewhat comically tense tone throughout.  And it comes to us from a British composer whose standout work was JUST featured in the blockbuster of the moment, previous episode Project Hail Mary….sadly there were no clips available at the time that review was recorded but that epic score has gratefully been released online since. (Audio clip) 

Well for this film, he has conducted a COMPLETELY different type of score…..pretty minimalist actually at it’s pretty much just two dueling flutes…THAT’S it.  But these flutes are making their presence known in between awkward looks and/or exchanges of dialogue – may I present you with the quick, quiet theme for “The Drama.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film): 

Not really a waste here, just more of a slight concern.  Alana Haim - who is actually more well-known as one of the three members of the pop group comprising her and her sisters, Haim - I LIKED her in the two previous PT Anderson films which I saw her in but she is a genuine FORCE in this movie to the point where it kind of surprised me.  In fact if there is anyone who kinda steals the film overall, it's Alana who is bringing STRONG Karen energy to her busy-body character of Rachel.  She is REALLY just making a meal out of it to the point where it almost throws the film off-balance….and I don’t want to spoil any more than that.        

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

For me, probably THE biggest laugh-out loud sequence occurs about 40 minutes into the film and it’s AFTER this revelation from Emma….along with some resulting fall-out between them, including some genuine freak-outs by Charlie.  Don’t forget though that we have a wedding coming up…..and immediately following one particularly rough night between the couple-to-be, they have an appointment with their wedding photographer.  That would be the HIGHLY enthusiastic Frances played by Zoe Winters (Succession, Materialists) in a genuinely funny performance.  She’s trying to get them PUMPED for the wedding and taking some pictures together…..and let’s just say that with the context about what we just learned about Emma, Winters’ timing with what she says and HOW she says it couldn't be any better. 😄 (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

As to whether you'll be able to enjoy this film given the subject matter which is tackled....well to each their own. I have little doubt that some audiences will be genuinely put off by what is revealed and how it is dealt with, I wouldn't fault them for feeling that way either. But for me, it worked - it added tension to the story but never took away from my overall enjoyment. Borgli keeps the whole thing tightly would and it never wears out its welcome - this tops out at 105 minutes and not a moment too soon with a resolution for these characters which may or may not be satisfying OR neat depending on how you look at it.  It’s a unique film with a somewhat unique take and that is ALL Borgli – for accomplishing his spin on such a time-tested genre, Kristoffer Borgli is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It’s funny but just about a month ago during the reviews of previous episodes Party Girl and Living in Oblivion, I was COMISERATING as to how they just don’t make smaller independent films which are FUN anymore…..and yet HERE we are, I found this film to a genuinely fun watch even despite some dicey subject matter which might very well prevent others from finding it quite so fun.  But I did and honestly, this is VERY much in the vein of many a dark indie comedy which was so prevalent in the ‘90’s…..smaller films which could you make laugh AND wince in equal measure like To Die For, The Last Seduction, Welcome to the Dollhouse, The House of Yes, and….probably one of my personal favorites, future episode Flirting With Disaster.  No this is not your typical rom-com but like those films, it can still make you laugh while going to some twisted places.  Consider me tickled too that it’s actually making MONEY no less….by all means, check it out! 

Now Playing In Theaters

And that ends another MATRIMONIAL  review!