Following the lives of Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) just days before their wedding, secrets are unveiled and relationships begin to diminish. It’s dark, comedic, and yet romantic. 

The movie can be described as flirting with complex themes, as the secret Emma reveals is a pivotal plot driver. It won't be shared in this review, because the plot revolves around it, and, selfishly, I want audiences to feel the same unease I did. Still, it explores the idea of loving someone after learning their deepest, darkest secret.

The main thought after leaving the film is, could you? 

It’s all situational in a sense, where love at first sight plays a huge role in how these two characters interact, and how one was brought up becomes a way to discuss themes. All in all, this film is really something special as it forces characters and the audience to confront uncomfortable ethical questions. 

Throughout, Zendaya and Pattinson knock it out of the park playing lovers who navigate the stress of a wedding, all while trying to decipher if they’re meant to be. 

Some standout performances go to Emma’s friend and maid of honor, Rachel (Alana Haim), and Charlie’s co-worker, Misha (Hailey Gates), who brought the heat when it came to calling out the drama between Emma and Charlie. No pun intended. 

Saying that you get second-hand embarrassment after leaving the theater is an understatement, because this movie leaves you thinking about a “what if” scenario, and you start to feel for the characters who aren’t as involved in the wedding process. 

In one scene, when Emma and Charlie are practicing taking wedding photos, the tension is real. There is a disgusting vibe throughout, with Charlie glancing at a secretary while his soon-to-be wife stands right next to him. It seems like all Emma wants is for Charlie to understand, but is he really trying to understand her, or the blonde woman at the counter? 

This question is kind of answered toward the middle of the movie, when Charlie “opens up” to Misha and ends up kissing her, and more events unfold that portray him in a horrible light.

The ending leans into the idea of choosing to move forward anyway, where a central relationship thing Emma and Charlie do is “start over” whenever they're in an uncomfortable situation and fighting. This is seen at the end, where, after the traumatic events of their wedding, they go to a diner and order food. The couple reintroduces themselves, and it seems their relationship is peachy again. Though there’s the idea again – can we continue to love someone after something horrible happens? 

“The Drama” doesn’t tie things up in a nice little bow – it hands you the ribbon, smirks and walks away. You’re left sitting there, half amused, half unsettled, wondering if you just watched a love story or a train wreck dressed in a black tie and a wedding dress. It’s messy, uncomfortable and at times feels a bit too real, but maybe that’s the point.

Long after the credits roll, you’re not really thinking about all the events that unfolded because of a drunk secret – you’re thinking about that question again.

Could you love someone after knowing their darkest secret? And more importantly, should you?