How well do we really know our loved ones? Don’t ask that question if you’re not prepared for an answer that you may not be ready to hear.
This is the basic premise of “The Drama.” If you’re expecting a light romantic comedy, it’s the opposite of that. One might argue that “Materialists” is along the same construct, with a heavy subject material inserted in the middle, but this movie strays along further. A significant portion is spent on flashbacks and images imagined based on those flashbacks.
Emma (Zendaya, “Spider-Man” series) is to wed her first love, Charlie (Robert Pattinson) in days. There are typical wedding drama, such as choices on food and beverage menu, flower arrangements, first dance choreography, practice photoshoots. But that’s not “the drama.”
The drama comes one night when the couple spends one of their last pre-wedding times with their maid of honor, Rachel (Alana Haim), and best man, Mike (Mamoudou Athie). When that question pops up, Rachel, Mike, and Charlie awkwardly give their answers. Everyone squirms and laughs. To each their own, their past actions were bad, with varying degrees.
Emma’s answer, however, makes everyone really squirm and it’s no laughing matter. The dark secret from the past is out and there’s no way to take it back. Once the shocking knowledge is in everyone’s head, they react and question everything they knew about Emma, her character then and now, and how to move forward or not move forward with the wedding.
The entire movie is built around this early revealed secret and how it creates a chain of fixations and overreactions and spiraling out. Relationships are permanently changed.
It’s also one of those movies that poses the question, “What would you do?” if you were in the same situation. How would you react? What can you overlook about a loved one? What about unconditional love? Is there a limit? Do you believe that people can change? And if so, to what extent? How can you move past your fixation? Can you forgive and move on?
People will evaluate this story based on their own life filters; belief system, past experiences, moral compass.
Drama-filled, you’ll experience second-hand embarrassment and uncomfortable cringe watching the characters tripping all over themselves. Tense and anxious, expect the unexpected with “The Drama.”
