Movie Review: ‘Malcolm & Marie’ is emotional, uneven relationship drama

John David Washington and Zendaya star in Netflix's "Malcolm & Marie." (Dominic Miller/Netflix)
A few weeks ago, HBO Max debuted “Locked Down,” a small-scale movie featuring well-known actors that was made quickly during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Now arrives “Malcolm & Marie,” a similarly bare-bones affair that, according to its production notes, was written, shot, edited and sold between April and September.

Unlike “Locked Down,” however, “Malcolm & Marie” has nothing to do with COVID-19 when it comes to its subject matter. Starring John David Washington and Zendaya as the film’s namesake characters, the drama concerns a relationship — or, perhaps, the end of one.