Jay Roach’s The Roses Premieres to Mixed Critical Reception

The 2025 film "The Roses," directed by Jay Roach and starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, is a modern reimagining of Warren Adler's novel "The War of the Roses" and its 1989 film adaptation. The story follows Ivy and Theo Rose, a British couple living in Northern California, whose marriage unravels amid shifting career roles and personal resentments, with Ivy becoming a successful restaurateur while Theo becomes a hands-on father. Critics have praised the lead performances as 'sublime' and highlighted the film's witty script and dark humor, portraying it as a sharp battle of the sexes rooted in contemporary domestic stresses. However, some reviews note the movie struggles to balance venom and comedy, with a slow first half and a rushed descent into marital chaos, resulting in a bleak tone that can feel exhausting rather than entertaining. The film replaces the original's slapstick carnage with biting wit and psychological warfare, yet opinions differ on how effectively it delivers satire and emotional insight. Overall, "The Roses" offers a fresh take on a classic story, blending biting humor with a portrayal of a marriage falling apart in a modern context.