“Jay Roach’s The Roses (2025), a remake of Danny DeVito’s The War of the Roses (1989), is a darkly comic tale of a marriage undone by ambition, ego, and obsession.”. Adapted by Tony McNamara, the film stars Olivia Colman as Ivy and Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo Rose, whose whirlwind romance soon unravels amid career triumphs and domestic tension.
Ivy’s seaside restaurant thrives while Theo’s architectural venture collapses, triggering a toxic mix of rivalry and resentment. McNamara, known for The Great, skillfully balances desire and disgust, blending sharp humor with emotionally charged dialogue. Lines like, “Never leave me, but when you do, will you kill me on the way out?” underscore the film’s cruelly comic tone.
Visually, Roach opts for a sanitized, Nancy Meyers–style aesthetic that lacks the inventive flair of the original. Supporting roles, including Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Jamie Demetriou, and Zoë Chao, provide comic color, but the film is carried entirely by Colman and Cumberbatch, whose chemistry ranges from farcical hysteria to genuine emotional depth.
The Roses is a decadent, ruthless exploration of love and hate, released on 29 August.
Dir: Jay Roach | Starring: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Mirren, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney | Cert: 15 | Runtime: 105 min
