‘The Roses’ – Review
Lauded thespians Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are two singular sticks of theatrical dynamite. When thrown together, they’re utterly combustible in Jay Roach’s The Roses. The resulting cinematic experience for audiences is a wickedly sharp, acid-laced dark-comedy that is absolutely fucking fabulous!
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites
Adapted from Warren Adler’s classic novel The War of the Roses and its seminal 1989 big-screen adaptation starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, The Roses arrives in cinemas with fresh, ferocious bite. Savage, hysterical, and wildly unpredictable, this is one comedy that doesn’t just nudge at the boundaries of taste and madness: it gleefully bulldozes right through them.
And at the helm of this fiery marital implosion is none other than Jay Roach. The man is synonymous with comedy gold—Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Bombshell, Trumbo – and now he brings his sharp narrative instincts and spot on comedic timing to The Roses. The result? A film that is zesty, spicy, unhinged, and hands down one of the most deliriously entertaining comedies of the year. Think of it as a cinematic degustation of chaos, where each course is crazier (and funnier) than the last.
Roach’s approach is clever and immediately engaging. He opens en medias res, thrusting us straight into the madness of Theo and Ivy Rose’s warzone of a home before winding the clock back to show how their fairytale romance soured beyond recognition. The early glow of love quickly curdles, and the escalation is swift and savage. With every passing scene, Roach dials up the tension and lunacy as Ivy and Theo’s frustration, envy, and outright hatred bubble to the surface until both are consumed by their villainy.
This is a film that thrives on unpredictability. The laughs don’t just land, they crash into you. Each beat is funnier, darker, and wilder than the last, and the narrative pace is so relentless that you never quite know where it’s heading next. That uncertainty is its magic. One moment you’re giggling at a petty squabble, the next you’re cackling at full-blown domestic warfare. Two sequences stand out in particular: a jaw-dropping dinner scene where the Roses’ venom spills out in front of their unsuspecting guests, and a third act that hurtles into full-blown insanity. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the ending crashes in with a twist you’ll never see coming.
The verbal warfare is also a joy to behold. The script is sharp, nasty, and downright inventive when it comes to profanity. Be prepared for a linguistic rollercoaster of insults, curses, and swear-filled tirades that are so creative they become their own kind of poetry. It’s vicious, it’s filthy, and it’s utterly hilarious.
Of course, none of this would work without the powerhouse pairing of Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. As Ivy Rose, Colman is simply on fire. Wild, mischievous, and uninhibited, she dives headfirst into Ivy’s vanity, ambition, and rash decision-making. She’s both hysterically funny and terrifying, and you can’t take your eyes off her. Opposite her, Cumberbatch delivers a career-twisting performance as Theo, a former high-flyer turned sad sack who spirals into pathetic desperation. It’s a hilarious yet quietly tragic turn, and his gradual descent only fuels the calamity of the narrative.
Together, Colman and Cumberbatch are dynamite. Their chemistry is electric, both in their initial affection and their later venomous hatred. Watching them spar—verbally, physically, emotionally is at the heart of The Roses. Their back-and-forth is sharp, unpredictable, and always entertaining, and it’s what makes this black comedy so wildly addictive.
At a time when comedy can often play it safe, The Roses is fearless. It’s a film that feels original, sharp, and uncompromisingly bold, with a style that’s equal parts outrageous and sophisticated. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud comedy that doubles as a gleeful descent into madness, you’ll find it here.
Savage. Hysterical. Unpredictable. The Roses is one of 2025’s comedy highlights—a film that proves when love turns sour, the results can be devastatingly funny.
Image: 20th Century Studios
