The Roses Review: Benedict Cumberbatch And Olivia Colman Lead An Anti-Romantic Comedy, And It Doesn’t Get Bitter Than This

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In many Hollywood films, we often see swift encounters leading to romantic relationships that blossom quickly. However, it’s not common to find stories about couples who have spent decades gazing into each other’s eyes. One such exception is the movie ‘The Roses‘, which focuses on Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as Theo and Ivy Rose. Unlike typical romantic films that spark feelings of butterflies, this story might not elicit those same sensations in viewers.

The Roses

Launch Date: 29th August, 2025

Behind the Scenes: Jay Roach (Director)

Script by: Tony McNamara

Leading Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Hala Finley

Age Restriction: Rated R for frequent use of strong language, adult content, and drug references.

Running Time: Approximately 105 minutes

In the movie, they’ve been a couple for ten years, managing their dual, ambitious careers while raising two kids. It’s unusual to encounter such a middle-aged couple in films, but unlike a typical romantic comedy, _The Roses_ makes you hope for their marital downfall as the narrative unfolds. While it addresses genuine challenges that many modern couples face, _The Roses_ prioritizes humor and silliness over emotional depth, contrasting sharply with films like _Marriage Story_.

It’s really entertaining to see Cumberbatch and Colman banter back and forth, escalating their fictional marriage into more troubled territory. Given that neither character is portrayed as flawless, it’s no surprise. However, the movie paints a rather grim picture of relationships and the chaos they can breed when not nurtured healthily.

It’s hilarious to watch Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman play a wealthy couple on opposite career trajectories.

The movie titled ‘The Roses’ is a modern adaptation of the 1980s novel ‘The War of the Roses’ by Warren Adler, which was also made into a film in 1989 starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner (a film I haven’t had the chance to watch). Notably, this movie marks director Jay Roach’s first comedy since years, known for directing comedies like ‘Austin Powers’, ‘Meet The Parents’, and ‘Dinner For Schmucks’. His expertise in the genre shines through as he seamlessly blends humorous scenes with genuine moments.

My world turns upside down when my architectural masterpiece spectacularly fails, humiliating me and costing me my job. On the same fateful night, Ivy’s seafood restaurant skyrockets in popularity. So, we make a switch: Ivy takes on the breadwinning role while I focus on raising our children. Over time, our relationship evolves into a slow-boiling rancor, replacing affection with resentment and disdain. It’s captivating to see Cumberbatch and Colman morph into increasingly self-absorbed characters, maintaining a peculiar delight (with an R-rated twist) that keeps viewers hooked.

Benedict Cumberbatch portrays an ambitious individual with a grand ego, borderline obsessive about perfection, and brimming with constant mental activity. On the other hand, Olivia Colman’s character Ivy is a creative, eccentric stay-at-home mom who, after opening her own restaurant, dresses vibrantly and enjoys surprising her kids with late-night treats. Their romance develops at a rapid pace, with their initial encounter igniting an instant spark. Although the beginning of their relationship isn’t extensively established, this fast-paced development creates an intriguing dynamic that makes it enjoyable to watch their relationship unfold – even as it eventually crumbles. Cumberbatch and Colman deliver bitingly humorous performances throughout the narrative, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish.

Additionally, the show boasts a hilarious ensemble of comedians like Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Chao, Jamie Demetriou, Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, and Allison Janney. They skillfully assist in balancing the Roses’ emotional turmoil, sometimes even stoking the flames. Samberg and McKinnon bring laughter by creatively exploring stereotypes, such as a middle-aged couple experimenting with relationship openness or casually revealing depression symptoms during social events. Chao and Demetriou add to the humor as Theo’s colleagues in architecture who perpetually compare themselves to the Roses. Lastly, Mani and Gatwa enrich the comedy by portraying Ivy’s devoted servants enjoying the ride of her newfound success.

Tony McNamara’s flair for biting dialogue makes for another juicy script after his other critically acclaimed work (like Poor Things).

One of the standout aspects of “The Roses” is undeniably the intellect that crafted the dialogue. This brilliant script was penned by Tony McNamara, a renowned writer whose recent works include “Poor Things“, but he is also known for his previous projects such as “The Favourite“, “The Great“, and more recently, “Cruella“. McNamara once again demonstrates his exceptional storytelling abilities by infusing every scene with witty brilliance. The delight lies in watching Cumberbatch and Colman bring to life the characters McNamara has written so vividly on paper. Many of the lines are rich in sharp sarcasm that is intended to elicit shocked laughter from viewers, striking a balance between being crass yet utterly appetizing.

Additionally, what makes this even more appealing is that the movie is based in the picturesque coastal region of Northern California. Here, Theo works on stunning coastal architecture, while Ivy runs a quaint seafood shop named “We’ve Got Crabs.

The Roses acts as a guide about what not to do in marriage, and in doing so, it absolutely goes more in a ridiculous direction rather than taking a grounded approach to a movie about relationships.

The film titled “The Roses” demonstrates a unique approach, allowing its narrative to develop gradually without rushing or overstepping boundaries. However, it seems to delay showing empathy towards its central characters, often resembling more of a Tom & Jerry cartoon, where characters engage in antagonistic behavior rather than displaying compassion. This focus on entertaining the audience with character conflict may compromise the film’s believability by allowing the characters to act excessively angry.

If someone who has experienced issues in a long-term relationship were to watch “The Roses”, they might find it to be overly exaggerated yet still relate to certain aspects. This film is absurdly humorous, boasting a dark comedy that’s as sharp as the acting skills of its two stellar leads.

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2025-08-29 14:31