Les Rose

It's a dark comedy about marriage set from 2011 to 2025, briefly in London, England, but mainly in Mendocino, California. Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a frustrated, idealistic architect who wants his designs to reflect their environment. He meets Ivy (Olivia Colman), who dabbles at gourmet cooking and hankers to move to America. They impulsively marry and move to California, where in ten years Theo starts a flourishing career while Ivy raises their twin children, Hattie (Hala Finney/Delaney Quinn) and Roy (Wells Rappaport/Ollie Robinson). We also meet some friends, such as Barry (Andy Samberg) and Amy (Kate McKinnon). As things are going well, Ivy starts a small seafood restaurant with Theo's support.

Suddenly, in 2021, a major disaster turns their lives upside down--Theo loses his position and takes over raising the kids, while Ivy's restaurant suddenly becomes a major success. Their relationship deteriorates amid acerbic dialogue and conflict avoidance, culminating in an explosive climax.

I like both Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as actors, and believe they deliver excellent performances in "The Roses," as the script features clever, edgy repartee between their characters, and their chemistry is outstanding. However, the secondary characters don't work as well. The Barry and Amy characters are memorable, but most others are not. The Allison Janney character has her best lines in the trailer.

I think it's really amazing to have a romantic comedy featuring two of the UK's national treasures Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman in the theatres now, especially with all the nastiness going on the world.

This reimagining of the 1989 dark comedy featuring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, shows what happens when a couple favour work-like ambitions rather than working on communicating with one another. It is genuinely hilarious, sweet and tragic all at the same time.

I won't give away the ending, but while it makes some changes to how the 1989 version ended, it also doesn't take away its cautionary tale aspect. It is also hugely critical of the material wealth that people accumulate when they become successful with their jobs.

The two leads have great chemistry and work excellently together. The film also has an early 2000s vibe, which reminded me of Roach's earlier films such as Meet The Parents or Analyse This. Definitely worth a rewatch!

The Roses was an engaging and enjoyable watch. While the story did give me pause, making me wonder whether my partner and I might one day mirror the couple on screen, it was delivered with remarkable performances. Olivia Colman in particular stands out as always, bringing depth and nuance to her role.

On the technical side, aside from a few weak CGI shots, the visuals were impressive. The color grading was especially striking and added richness to the overall tone of the film.

Although the ending felt somewhat overdone, the film as a whole was satisfying and well worth the watch.

This movie was really funny. I loved seeing Olivia Colman become a fierce girlboss and reversing the gender norms with Benedict Cumberbatch having to be the stay at home dad. The kid actors (Ollie Robinson and Delaney Quin) did an incredible job playing American kids who grew up in the US but had the caustic wit of a Brit.

Kate McKinnon and Alison Janey are hilarious in their roles. I was just sad Alison Janey wasn't in the film more.

Overall it was fun, hilarious and a really good movie. Highly recommend you go see it.

Less a scabrous 'my parents in the eighties' affair like the original "War of The Roses" than a continuous mild volley of P. G. Wodehouse-level insults and backhands, Coleman and Cumberbatch are a delight as marrieds (though looking more like elder sister and flummoxed younger brother) whose equanimity topples when Benedict's architectural career goes the way of Gotham Hospital in "The Dark Knight." Andy Samberg, Alison Janney and Kate McKinnon sit back and provide relaxed support when necessary but mostly let these old pros stretch out and do their stuff. What a great throwback pairing and bouquet of talent! Hope they work together again!