The Roses
review by Bobby Blakey
In 1989 Michael Douglas and Katheleen Turner went head-to head with the film The War of the Roses based on the novel of the same name by Warren Adler. Now Meet the Parents and Austin Powers director Jay Roach is remaking the film with The Roses starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao and Kate McKinnon.
The Roses follow picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo whose life seems easy with successful careers, a loving marriage, and great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites. The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 classic film The War of the Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.
This reimagining of the story keeps the general idea of the story albeit with a completely new direction in the family dynamic and descent into chaos. What I found interesting here is that it seemed a lot more toned down than the original film or the source material and loses its darkness in exchange for more of a generic couples’ issues. That doesn’t mean the film doesn’t work, it’s just not the story you might expect from the source material.
As opposed to spending much time in the actual war between these two, it takes most of the film just building the wedge and animosity between them. It never feels like real hatred or anything other than petty jealousy, which fails to be all that impactful in understanding where you think it might go given the source material. Thankfully the dynamic and dysfunction between
Cumberbatch and Colman is the driving point of the film and despite the films missing the mark at times is still worth watching them together.
Outside of the great chemistry between the two leads, the scene stealer is that of the always hilarious Kate McKinnon. She swoops in randomly for some dry one liners and bizarre dialogue that is funny and brings the needed levity it needed from where it is heading. The rest of the cast are all great as well, so the film isn’t lacking talent or effort, but because of the conflict itself. It’s not until the last 35 minutes or so that it finally gets to their actual war of sorts.
Even then they never go all in on their issues and seem to be constantly attempting to work it out, which is obviously fine in the story here but knowing the source material and where it is supposed to be heading feels more watered down. I didn’t hate it in any way but guess I was expecting more of the long-term battle per usual in the story and instead they let it build and only give that finally in the final moments. Even then most of their “war” was being more annoying to each other than really a danger outside of a few moments. Make no mistake there are some darker moments in the final moments that help it a bit, but just not enough. I will give it credit for sticking to a version of the final moments in their journey even though they went a darker more upbeat approach.
Had it been an original story as opposed to the source material I think it would have played better. For those that haven’t read or seen the original film this is a great film filled with excellent performances, but others might be disappointed in the end result.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including a gag reel and numerous featurettes taking you behind love and war. Join the fight with The Roses available now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD from Searchlight Pictures.