Review: The Roses

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Official synopsis: A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple, Theo and Ivy (Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman) is ignited when Theo's professional dreams come crashing down.

I'll start by saying I've never seen Danny DeVito's original The War of the Roses, so I cannot compare the two. After watching this, I would like to check it out eventually because this was absolutely hysterical. 

Cumberbatch and Colman would make a great couple in any kind of movie, but it's nice to see them get to flex their comedic chops here. Theo and Ivy have a great meet cute, and a great report until things come crashing down for them. They're also surrounded by a (mostly) great supporting cast that matches their energy. Alison Janney shows up for 5 minutes and has one of the funniest lines in the entire movie.

I had one minor problem with the film, and critic David Chen summed it up very well on his Letterboxd: "Kate McKinnon is a spice like dried thyme and deployed incorrectly she can ruin the entire soup. That doesn’t happen here but it comes dangerously close." Her best scene is in the trailer and I had hoped she'd keep that subtle energy about her, and she just doesn't. I had similar problems with Danny Boyle's Yesterday. She was over the top and out of place there, and is very close to doing that again here. And it's weird because she's worked with director Jay Roach before in Bombshell and I thought she was great there. 

If you're a big fan of the original, I'd love to hear how you compare the two films. I can't wait to watch this again.

Grade: B+

Comments

  1. thevoid99September 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM

    I have not seen this version though I am intrigued by this. I have seen The War of the Roses. In fact, that was a film I saw a bunch of times in the 90s as my parents loved that film. It is INSANE. The things Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner were doing to each other was outrageous. It is dark but fucking hilarious.

    I still do not want to watch Yesterday as I recalled that her character was just over the top and I can't deal with that. That's one of many reasons why I refuse to see the film. I'm just glad my dad didn't see it as he saw the trailer and was like "what the fuck is this shit and why the Beatles?" where he would then go into a rant in Espanol that would offend everyone. I still miss those rants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM

      I really need to watch The War of the Roses now to compare!

      Delete
  2. SJHoneywellSeptember 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM

    Kate McKinnon has strong Robin Williams energy in the sense that if she is handled well and has a strong director, she can be incredibly good at what she is doing. If she is left uncontrolled, things can quickly get out of hand. The same is true of Melissa McCarthy. That kind of talent needs to be channeled and directed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM

      YES. Exactly with Melissa McCarthy. When she's not doing her "fat person falling over" shit, she's hilarious. Like in Spy.

      Delete

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