The Roses

Olivia Colman & Benedict Cumberbatch were sublime as usual. No notes.

Andy Samberg also did the best he could and somehow managed to not make his character seem annoying given the writing.

The movie needed a lot more Allison Janney who was great for the few minutes she was in and a lot less Kate McKinnon whose character was just absurd and over the top for no reason. Did not find her remotely funny.

None of the other characters were fully formed and you couldn't care less about them. Wasted some really talented actors like Ncuti Gatwa in throw away roles.

The film struggles with pacing, as its first half feels sluggish and uninspired, offering little to capture attention. The second half fares no better, unfolding like an elongated trailer. Since nearly all the standout moments are already showcased in the trailer, the movie ultimately lacks real impact.

Sad to say, but these 2 Oscar caliber talents do not hold a candle to the chemistry of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner from the 1989 version This is one of those comedies where a majority of the funniest moments were displayed in the trailers. Even the highly anticipated dinner scene was unremarkable and underwhelming. "The Roses" pales in comparison to the original, but the starring actors provide just enough entertainment value to make viewers feel like they had a good enough time. For those expecting a harsher dark comedy throughout, you will be sorely disappointed.

The main characters are great actors but the have no chemistry between each other, and I don't think the movie was "funny"

While these are two of the most talented and decorated actors in the business, they cannot match the incredible on-screen chemistry of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner from the original film. Still, their witty English sarcasm and deadpan line delivery provide some much-needed humorous moments.

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.

Benedict Cumberbach and Olivia Colman excelled as usual in their roles, but I wish their pairing was a little more believable, but despite that, they carried the film. However, some of the other characters were a little unrealistic and over the top like Kim McKinnon and Andy Samberg. The actress did their best, but the situations created were a little unrealistic. The film just did not seem believable - for instance, why would you keep around friends who are always trying to undermine you, the couple seemed to have no real friends, and the children were like exercise robots!

The film tried too hard to be funny, and therefore took out some of the emotion and humanity that would have made it more relatable. There was no teenage angst from the children. The coworkers in the restaurant were given much more screen time in an attempt at humor, than Allison Janney, who was great as usual in her brief role as the lawyer.

The older "War of the Roses film" somehow had real passion and the heart that this film lacked. After the set up of the marketing and the trailer, the actual film left me disappointed.