The Drama

CinemaSerf

With just one week to go until their nuptials, the partially deaf 'Emma' (Zendaya) and 'Charlie' (Robert Pattinson) are nervously anticipating the big day. Planning is still incomplete as they sit down with friends 'Rachel' (Alana Haim) and her husband 'Mike' (Mamoudou Athie) for the onerous task of selecting the menu. The mushroom risotto seems to be a winner, though quite what was wrong with his idea of a cheeseburger I don't know, and so they turn their thoughts to the wine. A little tipsy, they begin to play a game that ends up with 'Emma' revealing something about her past that shocks all three others around the table. What now ensues illustrates just how the couple have to deal with the psychological consequences of her admission and slowly we begin to wonder if they might just not get married at all. Sure, some of the scenarios are a bit contrived but the writing presents us with some genuinely laugh out loud moments - especially as they discuss their photography schedule, and both Zendaya and Pattinson bounce off each other in such a fashion as to share their gradually increasing discomfort quite effectively with those of us watching. Her revelation, coupled with some fairly entertaining pre-wedding jitters, sets up an enjoyably dark comedy that's peppered with a little social commentary, a gentle critique of thirty-something yuppiedom and some fun observations of reactions, over-reactions and of having just a little too much wine and then opening your mouth. It does ebb and flow a little, and I can't say that the ending did much for me, but this takes a quirky look at just how easily loving relationships can be destabilised and it also stresses that if you are going to try to chat someone up by sharing thoughts on their book - make sure you've actually read it!