THE ROSES is a loose adaptation of the 1981 novel THE WAR OF THE ROSES, which was earlier adapted into a 1989 film with the same name as the novel. I vaguely recall seeing the 80s version at some point in my life and finding it mean-spirited and unrelatable. I’m happy to report that THE ROSES is filled with relatable moments, even though it does go to extremes eventually. Come with me while I figure out why this film touched me so much. I laughed, I cried, and laughed so hard I cried.
Unlike the Roses, the titular characters in this film, I’m not, nor have I ever been, married. Also, unlike them, I don’t have kids, and I’m not a super-rich architect, chef, or restaurateur. None of that was important for me to enjoy the hell out of THE ROSES. So why was it SO relatable? Now, I am the age of the people in the movie, unlike the 80s version, which came out when I was a kid. At this age come big adult decisions and bigger stakes. Couple that with how messy and discouraging everything is in 2025. Perhaps my experience here was an outlet for my frustrations? The cast, especially leads Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as Ivy and Theo Rose, respectively, is incredible. How refreshing to see an appropriately age-matched couple, too! We’ve become so accustomed to seeing actors in their 40s & 50s playing husbands to wives 20 years or more younger than them.
What I do remember about the WAR OF THE ROSES (1989) was that the build-up to the “war” between the feuding couple was nasty and unbelievable. I haven’t revisited it as an adult, though. The Roses in this version have a seemingly very loving marriage until they don’t. I appreciated that the film takes the time to show the many ways they’re perfect together and the little things that become big things to tear them apart. The gradual building of frustrations that turn into anger and resentment felt so real, but THE ROSES takes it to the extreme. A hard, cold, dark comedy that puts a mirror up to the face of humanity. On a microscale of our personal relationships, we’ve all let things fester until…snap, emotions explode. And on a macro scale, just look around. There is so much pent-up animosity barely brewing under the surface right now that there could be another Civil War in the US, or even a World War.
My biggest critique of this film is Ivy and Theo’s friend circle. Kate McKinnon, Zoë Chao, Andy Samburg, and Jamie Demetriou play the Roses’ close friends. This is a great group of actors, but they play the worst, most annoying group of friends I’ve seen in a film in a long time. Demetriou and McKinnon’s characters are so unlikeable you have to wonder why anyone would be friends with them at all. Director Jay Roach is still probably most well known for helming AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY almost 30 years ago. His record since has been inconsistent, but THE ROSES is a win.
THE ROSES is currently playing in theatres.
