Critics Aren’t Sure Whether to Marry The Drama

by

Critics are sharply divided over the new film The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The movie, directed by Kristoffer Borgli (known for Dream Scenario), tells the story of a wedding derailed when Zendaya’s character reveals a secret from her past. While almost everything about the film is sparking debate, Zendaya’s performance is consistently praised. The dark comedy, which also features Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie, is being hailed as unique, though whether that uniqueness works is up for discussion. One thing is certain: it’s a fresh take on familiar themes.

Below, find a selection of the critics, including those who support and object.

Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com describes the new film The Drama as immature and a noticeable decline in quality compared to the director’s previous work, Dream Scenario. While Dream Scenario satirized a flawed character, The Drama attempts to make its main characters sympathetic and portrays their critics as judgmental. Daniels questions the film’s authority to condemn those who are indifferent, given its shallow character development.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire describes the film’s surprising twist as playfully rebellious, yet grounded in a truth that can’t be ignored. He notes it’s shocking not for the sake of being shocking, but because mainstream films rarely challenge such a sensitive and controversial topic with such boldness.

Zendaya has proven her dramatic range in films like Challengers and Malcolm & Marie. In this new role, she’s subtly brilliant, consistently highlighting Emma’s vulnerability before unexpectedly turning that quality around. The character has partial hearing loss, and Zendaya cleverly portrays this through small details – a slight squint or a touch to her good ear when others speak. This nuanced performance not only draws the audience’s attention and creates empathy for Emma, but also subtly prepares them for a surprising reveal. —Kevin Maher, The Times

The film The Drama initially seems like it will offer a sharp and thought-provoking exploration of how a relationship deals with uniquely American issues. However, it ultimately feels like a retread of well-worn territory. It’s a seemingly straightforward romantic comedy about getting cold feet before a wedding, but tries to appear more substantial by hinting at deeper social commentary. Ultimately, the specifics of what Emma reveals in the film aren’t important to the overall story. —Richard Lawson, The Hollywood Reporter

Owen Gleiberman of Variety describes the humor in The Drama as stemming from watching the protagonist, Charlie, slowly unravel. Robert Pattinson expertly portrays this descent into anxiety, presenting Charlie as someone constantly reasoning with himself. The film cleverly explores questions about Charlie’s genuine desire to marry Emma, the validity of his fears, and whether his experience is simply an exaggerated form of typical wedding jitters – a natural, almost instinctual, kind of stress. Gleiberman acknowledges that analyzing the film’s ‘realism’ might seem unnecessary for a dark comedy, but he argues that the film’s precise and psychological approach – influenced by director Borgli’s Scandinavian style – makes the humor work because the audience needs to believe in what’s happening.

Nick Schager of the Daily Beast calls the new film The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, a misfire. Despite its talented cast, the black comedy (released in theaters April 3rd) is a humorless and awkward experience, and Schager believes A24 made a mistake by even releasing it. The film has been kept secret for months, but according to Schager, it should have remained hidden.

Read More

2026-03-31 22:58