The Roses This very British battle of the sexes is devilishly good fun, writes LARUSHKA IVAN-ZADEH

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Verdict: Deliciously wicked 

In the 1980s, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner portrayed a wealthy divorcing pair engaged in a bitter battle over assets in Danny DeVito’s grimly humorous film titled The War of the Roses.

Renowned for its increasing harshness, ranging from the notorious dinner party prank (where Douglas’s character urinates on his wife’s signature dish) to hints of pet homicide, it was considerably more sour than this cheerier remake featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman.

Just as the initial version, this story is inspired by the work of author Warren Adler. It introduces us to two characters from Great Britain: an accomplished architect named Theo (portrayed by Cumberbatch) and a promising chef called Ivy (played by Colman). Their love story begins at first glance.

The family relocates to California due to Theo’s job requirements, with Ivy temporarily pausing her aspirations as a food enthusiast to focus on raising their children. However, circumstances eventually change.

In the course of Ivy’s rapid career ascent, leading to her becoming a stay-at-home parent, Theo finds himself alone at home. Over time, their relationship distances itself, reaching a precarious point where even their couples’ therapist acknowledges that their issues might be beyond repair, stating, “I fear your problems may be too deep to resolve.

‘Are you actually allowed to say that?!’ goggles Theo.

If you’ve ever had a fleeting thought about hoping your significant other wasn’t around (for a brief moment), or found yourself venting in frustration as they left for a fancy work event while you were stuck dealing with the cat vomit and hanging up laundry, then this film is perfect for you.

This comedy is remarkably hilarious, much as one would expect from the mastermind behind films like Austin Powers and Meet The Parents (directed by Jay Roach), and the writer of Poor Things (Tony McNamara).

This script crackles with quick, humorous lines, swapping out the physical humor and chaos of the original film for sharp, sardonic humor (though there are still hints of that). However, without the exceptional talent of two actors bringing these lines to life, it wouldn’t have the same impact.

Nina Gold’s skillful pairing of Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch should rightfully earn her an Academy Award. Their collaboration resulted in a surprising yet exceptional on-screen duo. In this performance, they both shine brilliantly, a testament to their talents.

In a comical style reminiscent of exaggerated cartoons, Cumberbatch and Colman excel with their flawless pacing and depth of emotion, reinforcing the idea that apathy, not hatred, is actually the opposite of love. The characters portrayed by The Roses certainly do not embody indifference.

In other parts, Kate McKinnon is comedic yet somewhat repetitive in her portrayal of Amy, Barry’s married friend; one can’t help but wish for more screen time for Allison Janney as a tough-talking Rottweiler divorce lawyer, and Ncuti Gatwa as Ivy’s supportive gay coworker.

In various scenes, Kate McKinnon delivers laughter with her character Amy, Barry’s comical yet repetitive married friend; it would be great to have more instances of Allison Janney as a dogged divorce lawyer, and Ncuti Gatwa as Ivy’s confidant and gay coworker.

Both versions maintain the original context while improving readability and naturalness.

As the Roses’ marital tensions gradually heat up, turning into petty squabbles that eventually escalate into a full-blown conflict, it adds an extra layer of tantalizing drama, especially for those savoring from the UK perspective.

When his Californian therapist expresses surprise at the couple’s ‘verbal sharpness’, Theo responds dryly, “In England, we refer to that as banter.

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2025-08-29 01:20