Dive into the explosive world of The Roses, a modern reimagining of the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as Theo and Ivy a couple whose picture-perfect marriage descends into bitter chaos as ambition, resentment, and career shifts push them apart. Directed by Jay Roach with a screenplay by Tony McNamara, the film launches in theaters on August 29, 2025.
The story opens with a comedic therapy scene that quickly unravels into an uneven whirlwind of marital warfare. Ivy, the rising restaurateur, and Theo, the faltering architect, get trapped in a fierce battle of dominance and despair. Despite their commanding performances, the actors are weighed down by a script that fumbles its dark humor the jokes fall flat, the supporting characters are more grating than amusing, and the satirical edge feels dull rather than sharp.
Amidst the tension, The Roses showcases real-life camaraderie among its cast. A blooper reel highlights moments of joy between takes, reminding audiences of the chemistry behind the scenes particularly when Colman brandishes a prop gun at Cumberbatch or he messes around with water spills, offering a rare burst of levity in an otherwise grim storyline.
Both leads offer candid reflections on marriage beyond the lens. In interviews, they exchange wry takes on modern relationships, noting that true partnership is often less glamorous than Hollywood portrays filled with fatigue, frustration, and the mundane realities of daily life.
While The Roses lands in theaters with a heavyweight cast and a sharp satirical premise, it ultimately stumbles under uninspired writing and lackluster execution. It raises the question can such a classic story’s toxicity translate effectively in our contemporary climate, or does it die under the weight of its own ambition?
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