- Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa
- August 29th 2025
- 105
- Jay Roach
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch resort to drastic measures to win their house as their marriage falls apart.
Good friends Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch have been trying to work together for years, and they’ve finally made it happen with The Roses.
In the loose remake of 1989’s The War of the Roses, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, Colman and Cumberbatch play chef and architect Theo and Ivy Rose. They have two children, an aspirational home in California and seem absolutely besotted with each other.
However, when Ivy’s restaurant business becomes a huge success and Theo suffers a shocking blow to his career, resentments slowly drive a wedge between the once-happy pair, and they resort to drastic measures to win the house in the divorce.
The comedy pedigree here is impressive – there’s Austin Powers director Jay Roach leading the charge, aided by a script from The Favourite and The Great’s Tony McNamara, and seasoned comedians like Colman, Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon in the mix.
Given the calibre involved, you’d probably expect this to be an effective comedy from start to finish, but it’s sadly very inconsistent. The quality of the comedy is all over the place, with some witty putdowns and one-liners one moment and groan-worthy duds the next.
The marketing really sells the screwball action comedy towards the end, when the Roses’ war becomes physical. While this section is ridiculous and amusing, it only lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, so you’ve probably seen all the highlights in the trailer.
The majority of the film is about the highs and lows of their marriage, and it’s interesting to witness how a small grain of resentment can fester over the years. There’s still a lot of comedy here, but it’s more realistic compared to the heightened finale.
Colman and Cumberbatch should work together more often, as their real-life friendship helps their rapport on screen. While they aren’t convincing as a romantic couple, they bounce off each other wonderfully and have some mean verbal showdowns.
Cumberbatch is best known for his roles in serious dramas or superhero movies, so it’s exciting to see him flexing his comedy muscles alongside the effortless Colman. They look like they’re having a blast.
Overall, Colman and Cumberbatch are a winning pairing, but the comedy is too inconsistent to consider the film a total success.
In cinemas from Friday 29th August.
By Hannah Wales.
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