I must say, Robert Pattinson has come very far since “Twilight.” No longer is he the mysterious vampiric heartthrob listening to Debussy, and his recent films have shown his utter dedication to asserting his skill as an actor.
It really is an impressive filmography that he has developed: “The Lighthouse,” “Die, My Love” and “The Batman” have all showcased him at his best, or at least very near it. His latest, however, Christopher Borgli’s “The Drama,” shows him at his most human.
“The Drama” is Borgli’s latest film following his 2023 film “Dream Scenario,” about a man who begins to appear in the dreams of strangers. The two films are, in my opinion, very aligned in their ideas. The “drama” at the center of “The Drama” in all reality is not that big of an issue, and I don’t think that it would cause a rift between me and a partner, and that’s not really what the film is about. Instead of analyzing the relationship between Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya), Borgli focuses on how the social circumstances greatly exacerbated the situation, in a similar manner to “Dream Scenario.”
Rachel (Alana Haim) is the crucible in which the lovers’ engagement is tested: screaming, gossiping, yelling, and you guessed it, an incredible amount of drama. This is an easy connection to make to modern life, where exaggerated rumors, true or false, spread faster than ever, all thanks to the phones living in our pockets, but people also just are more reactionary. A chronic dissatisfaction lies deep within Rachel, and that becomes apparent through her body language and eagerness to stir the pot.
That’s what I believe “The Drama” intends to be warning about. I am sure nearly everyone has been told at some point or another to make sure one is surrounded by good and trusted people, and “The Drama” gives a good example of what can happen if those precautions are not taken.
Overall, “The Drama” has some minor flaws and issues, but I really do not mind them because they do not create such significant plot holes that the film becomes incoherent. I do think, however, that without watching “Dream Scenario” prior I might not have understood exactly what Borgli was trying to say with this film and the methods that he uses to illustrate his ideas.
I also think that this is a film that by far caters to younger audiences: the marketing campaign was really cool, with email wedding invitations and what I thought were some of the most representative trailers in my recent memory. They did a good job of getting me interested, and during the film that interest paid off repeatedly. Zendaya and Pattinson have a remarkable chemistry, and are adept at dramatic roles, and as such are a fun pairing onscreen and serve as effective foils to the hatred that Alana Haim garnered within me for Rachel.
“The Drama” is good, but definitely not great. Filled with a strong cast, interesting humor and plenty of the classic 2000’s rom-com story structure and meet-cutes, I enjoyed it more than I had anticipated.
Image is official publicity material.
The West Bend Current 
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