The Stream: Tonal whiplash could be hit or miss for some.

The Big Screen: Robert Pattinson’s hair acting, and, of course, Zendaya.

The Final Bill: Watch Zendaya and Robert Pattison deal with moral questions in this twisted romantic comedy.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Kristoffer Borgli
Writers: Kristoffer Borgli
Stars: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rating: R for mature thematic content, disturbing situations and language
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Production Companies: A24, Live Free or Die Films, Square Peg
Platform: In theaters April 3, 2026
Notable Trailers: Is God Is, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Dune: Part 3, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Invite., Backrooms

What’s up, Streamers! Since we are in full swing of Spring, love is in the air. which means we may be getting some romantic comedies to help fill up those date night. In this week’s latest release from A24, this star vehicle for Zendaya and Robert Pattinson is the sort of a romantic comedy that will have couples discussing long after the credits role. In The Drama, Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are a week away from their big day. They are going through the final preparations for their wedding when a fun conversation with their friends, Rachel (Haim) and Mike (Athie), turns dark. When a secret is revealed, Charlie and Emma have to deal with the fallout and how that impacts whether they’ll say “I do.” Worst thing you’ve ever done hijinks ensue.

Kristoffer Borgli, who also wrote and directed Dream Scenario, wrote and directed this emotionally complicated and darkly funny spin on the romantic comedy genre. This movie lulls you into the rhythm of a conventional romantic comedy and then pulls the rug right from under you. The Drama exhibits the kind of creative direction that stale genres need in order to thrive. A lot of what is successful about this movie starts with the idea and the execution of it by Borgli. This movie is grappling with heavy themes and questions of hypocrisy and whether you truly know your partner while otherwise being wrapped up in a romantic comedy package. Now, the whiplash between the disparate tones of this movie may not be for everyone. There are some moments in the middle of the movie where the momentum stalls and gets a little cyclical; but, if you can hang in with the movie, it pays off.

On top of that, casting Zendaya and Robert Pattison is quite brilliant because they are both mainstream movie stars, but they each have the potential to be edgy and dark (see: Euphoria and Good Time).The chemistry is established from the start, so when things get complicated, it’s easy to understand why each character would fight for their relationship. Robert Pattison, in particular, gets to play a strong romantic lead as well as a conflicted neurotic mess. It is fun to see how his hair morphs over the course of the movie. Zendaya is surprising in the assertiveness she brings to Emma while also being the sweet and charming woman we expect. Their comedic abilities mesh well, which makes the movie even more fun and engaging as they unravel.

Ultimately, The Drama is a romantic comedy with unexpected twists that raise questions of morality in relationships. The writing is sharp and the images are impactful. Zendaya and Robert Pattison bring their star power as well as some acting chops to what is an unconventional look at what is usually a stale genre. There’s comedy and there’s certainly psycho-drama worth seeing here that will stick with you after the final scene. Grab a big box of popcorn and say, “I do!”