The Roses

The Roses is a retelling of the novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler. Many may remember the 1989 film The War of the Roses starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. I rewatched the 1989 film before seeing this one as a comparison. The Roses is a more modern version for sure, but with several key pieces that ground it to the original film and novel.

Synopsis: A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down. | 1h 45m | Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, and drug content

Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman) Rose move from England to California to build a life and careers. Though set in California much of the movie was filmed in the UK which at times gives it a “could be anywhere” feel. Watching a film of any genre with high caliber acting takes it to a new level. Theo and Ivy have very strong personalities which adds to the volatile emotions when things go south. Casting British actors in this version gives it a totally different tone than the original. Even at their worst there is a politeness in their animosity. As Pink Floyd sang, “Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.” Things get ugly but they manage to keep a bright face for friends and family.

The role reversal makes this a very 2025 film too. In the 1989 story the Roses are fighting over a home that Micheal Douglas worked and paid for and Kathleen Turner stayed home and decorated. Here it is Olivia Colman who is bringing home the bacon – and other fancy foods as a succesful chef – while Benedict is raising the kids and designing the home after his architectural career takes a detour. It is this home that causes all the strife as neither is willing to part with it once their marriage ends.

Though full of deep emotion and the heartbreak of lives torn apart there is a lot of humor in this one as well. Some of the humor may be looked at as campy and unnecessary. The Roses best friends are played by Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon. I am a huge fan of both of them and their comedic delivery. Here though it felt out of place and more like sketch comedy than a break in the war of the Roses. McKinnon can say nothing and I will laugh. But not everyone is a fan and if you aren’t you will find her scenes silly and out of place.

Colman and Cumberbatch give a master class on how to take roles that are over the top and make them warm, relatable, and memorable. Watching the earlier film I enjoyed it but didn’t really care enough for the characters to pull for them. That was not the case here. I was rooting for them to get back together. Ive and Theo love each other in spite of the chaos and you are pulled into that by the performances. Douglas and Turner though solid actors didn’t sell the love as much. Or it was not what the film wanted to be. In The Roses I think we were supposed to feel more.

The Roses is a strong R for language. The Brits have a colorful way of expressing themselves that we are not quite used to in the states. But for some reason the foulest comment still sounds polite when given the accent. Married couples ok with some adult banter will find this a nice date night option.