The Roses

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.

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.

Jay Roach's The Roses is a sharp, stylish, and often brutally honest look at the slow-motion implosion of a marriage. On paper, it has all the makings of a wild, darkly funny ride a modern update of The War of the Roses, with a razor-sharp Tony McNamara script and a powerhouse pairing in Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. And while the film is undeniably entertaining, it's also a bit of a bait and switch that leaves you wishing it had trusted its chaos sooner.

The film charts the rise and implosion of Theo and Ivy Rose, a seemingly flawless couple whose marriage begins to fray as Theo's career skyrockets. What starts as subtle emotional distance soon becomes an emotional minefield, with small resentments snowballing into a quiet war of neglect, envy, and pride. The early sections of the film, watching them fall in love and build their lives together, are tender and grounded, anchored by the nuanced performances of Cumberbatch and Colman.

And here's where my frustration begins, the marketing for The Roses promises a balls-to-the-wall black comedy where a couple goes to war with each other in increasingly absurd ways. The trailer sells carnage, slapstick, and chaos. But in reality, that level of over-the-top madness doesn't hit until the last 20 minutes and by then, we've already seen most of those "wow" moments in the trailer. The slow build works narratively, adding emotional depth, but it also makes the movie feel like two different films competing for your attention, an incisive marital drama for most of its runtime, and a bonkers satire at the very end.

I can't help but feel a little cheated. If you walked into the theater expecting The Roses to be a wall-to-wall dark comedy, you're likely to leave a little underwhelmed. And that's a shame, because beneath the mismarketing is a smart, well-acted, and deeply cynical look at how success, ambition, and love can combust when left unattended.

The Roses is worth watching for Cumberbatch and Colman alone they elevate the material, turning what could have been a hollow satire into something genuinely compelling. But go in with the right expectations: this isn't the chaotic laugh riot the trailer sold you. It's a slow-burn dissection of a marriage in decay, with just a dash of chaos sprinkled on top.

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.

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.