The Roses is a sharp, satirical black comedy that peels back the glossy façade of marriage to expose envy, betrayal, and ambition. Directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, it tells the story of Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Olivia Colman), a high-achieving couple with a picture-perfect life: jobs, kids, love. But when Theo's architectural career crashes and Ivy’s restaurant takes off, their roles reverse and the resentment builds. What begins with witty barbs escalates into full-blown domestic warfare over money, identity, and respect. Stylistically the film mixes dark humour with sleek cinematography, icy elegance with bursts of absurdity. Themes of power imbalance, gender expectations, and the fragility of façades run through every heated confrontation.
The lead cast are wonderful, their chemistry bursts off the screen and both deliver fantastic performances. Benedict Cumberbatch, (Doctor Strange and The Imitation Game), brings intensity and vulnerability as Theo and Olivia Colman, Oscar-winner for The Favourite, is both wry and ferocious as Ivy. The supporting cast are also top-notch, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney all add texture, though the lead pair anchor the film. Critics have applauded the film’s daring, performances, and its reimagining of The War of the Roses, and its mix of emotional truth and dark comedy makes it compelling and watchable.
You might like The Roses, if you enjoyed Marriage Story (2019) or Fun with Dick and Jane (2005).
