Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) cannot wait to get married. As they finalize all the small details from flower arrangements to perfecting their first dance, it all seems to be coming together. While at a menu tasting with their best friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim), they come up with the great idea to tell one another the worst thing they have ever done. But when Emma’s revelation takes an unexpected turn, the week leading up to the wedding spins off the rails.
Writer and director Kristoffer Borgli has concocted an unsettling and awkward story unlike any other. If you are looking for a happy go lucky romcom, this is not that type of film. Going into it with as little to no information is the best because, trust me, no matter how much prep you get you haven’t seen anything like it.
Zendaya and Pattinson are two of the most popular working actors around right now. To have them team up for a film of this calibre was sure to garner a lot of attention and rightfully so. Zendaya always smashes it no matter what she does so it came as no surprise that she would do the same here. Pattinson was in top form too. The audience gets to experience everything from his perspective and he truly sells everything he’s feeling. Their chemistry is electric – it sizzles off the scene no matter what is happening. It’s like a train wreck that you know you should look away from, but no matter what you just can’t. Athie and Haim are excellent as Mike and Rachel. Athie’s Mike tries to be the voice of reason while Haim’s Rachel can’t get over what she’s learned about someone she thought she knew so much about. Haim actually impressed me with the shift in her character.
I honestly did not expect the film to go where it did thematically. I’m sure it will certainly divide audiences as a result. That being said, it will also open up some conversations which is important. I believe that the way in which they did deal with it was well done. While it made for some truly uncomfortable moments, they were balanced with some dark humor that doesn’t seem like it should work, but it did. I found myself laughing out loud at so many moments and then right away I’d be cringing at the next. The level of absurdity was on a whole other level, it felt like a fever dream.
The Drama ticked all the right boxes for me. It wasn’t afraid of pushing limits and it did so in a way that was endearing to watch. Combining top tier performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as well as a plot that takes you on a proper rollercoaster, I enjoyed watching it in a packed theatre. the collective reasons alone heightened the overall experience. This is one that will stick with me for a while.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5
Credits Rolling 