A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.

On the face of it, ‘The Drama’ is a film about two happily engaged millennials preparing for their upcoming wedding who are dealing with the normal stresses of organising such a big event, from writing speeches to finding the right photographer and DJ. They are Charlie and Emma, played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, with a meet-cute origin story straight out the movies and as far as we can see, a contented, loving relationship supported by good jobs and a supportive friendship group. That outline forms the basis of a film that was not exactly what I expected it to be, and the most important thing to say at this point is that you will get more out of this film by knowing as little as possible (noting this review will not be spoilerific beyond touching on core elements).

That is because ‘The Drama’ is far more interested in the complexities of modern relationships (romantic and otherwise) than in a nice cutesy happy marriage story with two attractive actors. It hinges on some key developments in Charlie and Emma’s life that force them to think about each other differently than they had before, with the audience by proxy being put in a position of judgment as a result. I am a huge fan of adult dramas that challenge the audience and this is right up my street, with some provocative and uncomfortable subject matter explored in a darkly comedic way that will have you gasping and laughing in equal measure. Indeed, in my cinema screening, specific moments would draw very different reactions from different members of the audience.

It is no surprise it is directed by a Scandinavian (Kristoffer Borgli, whose previous film was the surreal Nic Cage starring ‘Dream Scenario’) as the style of humour is blacker than black and more akin to the type of humour we enjoy in Europe than in the States I would say. I was reminded to a large degree by the works of Ruben Östlund, notably ‘Force Majeure’, which generates brilliant drama through placing its characters into awkward situations with no easy way out. As a result, at times ‘The Drama’ is excruciating to watch and that may put some people off, but I thought it was superb. I will say I thought the narrative started to spiral out of control a bit towards the end, becoming a little too broad, and that meant it doesn’t conclude as interestingly as it promised or had been at the outset.

Both Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are terrific and there’s some enjoyable supporting roles for the likes of Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie and scene stealer Hailey Benton Gates. I can see why ‘The Drama’ might prove to be polarising but if you’re up for a well-acted drama that explores morally complex themes then you’ll get a lot out of this film.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Kristoffer Borgli

Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Benton Gates, Zoë Winters, Hannah Gross, Sidney Lemmon and Anna Baryshnikov

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt33071426/