The Drama is a 2025 American drama film written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli. It had its world premiere in Los Angeles in March and was released in the UK on 3 April.

Charlie (Robert Pattinson), a handsome Brit in chunky glasses, spots beautiful American Emma (Zendaya) in a coffee shop. Cue the cute-meet, or should that be meet-cute – I am never sure. We move on to their first date, their first kiss, and so on, all entertainingly introduced by Charlie, who is practising his wedding speech for the benefit of his Best Man, Mike (Mamoudou Athie). It seems we have a romcom on our hands but wait, is there something lurking in the shadows…

The Drama is definitely what these days they call an anti-romcom. Charlie and Emma go drinking with Mike and his wife Rachel (Alana Haim), who is to be Emma’s Maid of Honour. They play a silly truth game, and Emma ends up admitting something terrible. I will not spoil it by telling you what she confesses, because I am sure the film will be better if this comes as a surprise to you, however I will say that it is pretty bad! So bad, in fact, that Charlie, Mike and Rachel must reassess everything they feel about Emma which, given Charlie is due to marry her a few days hence, is somewhat problematical.

Unfortunately (for me) I knew beforehand what Emma would confess, so I didn’t have the benefit of the sudden shock. However, as compensation, I was able to look at the defining moment and examine it carefully to see if it worked or if it came across as a bit contrived. And I have to say, it works perfectly – the entire conversation is totally believable.

So, good tight direction, good writing and a fascinating central dilemma, very good acting, particularly from Zendaya (call me old-fashioned, but I really want to say Zendaya Coleman) – so why not the full five stars? There is an incident with a woman that Charlie works with which I just didn’t believe. I can see why it was needed, to set up the wedding scene, but that made it necessary, but not possible (thank you Harold Pinter)! Also, I found the wedding scene a bit hard work, which given that was what the whole film was leading up to, was a bit of a shame. I thought there was too much packed into it, which somehow deflected from the real drama.

Having said that, the ending is really cute, almost letting you believe it was a sitcom. But only almost.

This is a controversial film. I am not sure why. Somewhere I read that it is inappropriate to make a film about this subject. I don’t get that – it happens, so why not? Maybe they meant not a comedy – but it isn’t, it is an anti-comedy. Whatever. I thought it was an interesting way to spend an afternoon and, if nothing else, it will certainly make you think. If you decide to give it a go, that is.