This article contains spoilers for The Drama.
Emma Robinson ’27: Thumbs Down
When I excitedly entered the movie theater to see the highly anticipated new Zendaya and Robert Pattinson movie, I expected it to stand out due to the exciting casting and intriguing trailers. However, what I was not anticipating was that it would actually stand out due to the deeply uncomfortable feelings it evoked. The Drama follows young couple Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson as they are faced with the question of whether or not to marry after learning the worst thing the other has ever done. While I enjoyed the premise of truly loving someone in the face of their imperfections, this movie took it too far. The beginning of the movie was very entertaining and light-hearted as we see how the characters met and fell in love. I enjoyed the overall style and thought that Emma and Charlie were perfectly cast. The manner in which their love story was presented was very engaging as Charlie is writing his wedding speech and going through the events of their past together from his current perspective. Robert Pattinson and Zendaya had good on-screen chemistry that made their relationship very believable. Elements of their relationship were revealed showing the couple was more than just lovers and that they clearly had a deep emotional connection.
Despite a good set-up, the movie soon took a wrong turn. Emma shared that her worst act was planning a mass shooting as a teenager, and the movie then devolved into images of her training to shoot up her school. I was deeply disturbed. I know that the point of the movie was to probe at the culturally relevant topics of mental health and gun violence, but it made for a genuinely cortisol-spiking and unpleasant experience. As a viewer who is from Pittsburgh, a city with a history of mass shootings, seeing this dark and disturbing side of one of the main characters made it impossible to root for them as a couple. The rest of the movie felt somewhat agonizing as I tried to reconcile the current Emma with the past Emma alongside Charlie. While it is clear that exploring that conflict was the point of the movie, that is not a feeling that I am seeking out when selecting a new watch.
Additionally, Charlie kissing albeit not sleeping with another girl in his office while contemplating his future with Emma did not sit well with me either. Although they do marry, I felt like Charlie went through with it only because he felt bad for cheating on Emma. They were somehow ‘even’ now since they had both messed up in the past. If I had not been watching the movie in theaters, I do not think I would have finished it. I also would not recommend the movie unless someone was looking for emotional upheaval. Although I was not necessarily expecting a typical rom-com, I was hoping the movie would provide something different than the distressing social commentary offered.
Chloe Asack ’26: Thumbs Up
I agree with my fellow critic that much of The Drama can feel like an excruciating watch, particularly in the United States, where many of us have some personal experience related to mass shootings. Our opinions diverge in that I found great value in The Drama’s depiction of the aestheticization of violence and guns in the U.S.
The statistics show that the majority of mass shooters have been white men, so some audiences may find it confounding that Emma is a Black woman. Yet, Emma is not actually a mass shooter. While the film’s characters are uncomfortable with the prospect that she could have been one, in my view, Emma represents the many young people (including women) who glorify mass shootings. Online communities dedicated to the Columbine shooters, for example, have participants that number in the 10 thousands.
Emma, like the vast majority of those people, was likely never going to commit a mass shooting, and after the depression that impelled her to romanticize such violence leavened, she proceeded to live an ordinary life. We are willing to discuss the motivations of mass shooters, individuals already condemned, but it is unsettling to accept that normal people have flirted with acts that we consider categorically irredeemable. Yet, many people have, and a story that’s true is worth telling, so long as it’s told well.
In The Drama, it is. The film efficiently speeds through Emma and Charlie’s romance, with the sleepy tones of director Kristoffer Borgli’s 35mm film capturing the intimacy of the couple and of Boston as well. As in all great romances, their love is most effectively proven through their physicality, like when Emma pantses Charlie or when they practice their wedding dance. When the film intends to devolve into unrelenting and pitiable chaos, devolve it does. In the second half, my face only relaxed from a wince during the sharp comedic relief, particularly from the eclectic crew of wedding vendors. The comedy never diminished the intensity, only underscoring the absurdity of having to deal with all that is superficial even when our problems are of great weight.
To paraphrase Anton Chekhov, the artist’s role is to pose questions, not to answer them. Still, I suspect many audience members will be dissatisfied with being left to consider The Drama’s heaviest questions by themselves, particularly that of if it’s wrong or insensitive to tell a story of disturbing aestheticization on its face. The Drama is filled with images of girls with guns, girls in eyeliner with guns, girls in minimal clothing with guns, girls in bright colors with guns and so forth. The volume of images may border on excessive, but we deserve that: The glorification of violence is widespread. Young Emma could be your little sister; your neighbor; your family friend. However deplorable we may find that, ignoring it will not make it disappear, and we shouldn’t look away.
‘Thumb War’ is a taste of two critics’ opinions on the same piece of media.
Emma Robinson is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
Chloe Asack is a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at casack@cornellsun.com.
