The Roses
★★★
Benedict Cumberbatch. Olivia Colman. Jay Roach in the director’s chair. On paper, The Roses sounds like the kind of prestige dark comedy that should capture awards buzz. A modern reimagining of The War of the Roses, the film follows a middle-aged couple at the breaking point, torn between professional ambition and the effort it takes to stay together.
The premise feels refreshingly adult in a theater landscape dominated by superheroes and sequels. My wife, Whitney, and I left the theater talking about it for a long time. But the more we talked, the clearer the problem became. This movie is miscast.
The acting itself is strong. Cumberbatch is sharp, Colman is as commanding as ever, and their back-and-forth exchanges crackle with dry wit. But we never believed them as a couple. As friends, sure. They have an easy partnership chemistry, which makes sense given their real-life friendship. But in a story about the collapse of intimacy, you have to believe there was intimacy to begin with. And physically, romantically, it just never registers.
The supporting cast includes Kate McKinnon, who steals scenes but feels out of place, and Andy Samberg, who brings his usual energy but never fully fits. It’s a cast of talented performers doing fine work, yet the ensemble doesn’t gel.
Roach also struggles with tone. The film moves between absurd comedy and grounded drama, aiming for dark humor but never quite landing it. The ending clarifies what he was working toward, and knowing that might make a second viewing more rewarding. But on first watch, it’s difficult to settle into the rhythm.
Still, there is value in a film like this. Stories about middle-aged ambition, resentment and the challenge of balancing career and marriage rarely get big-screen treatment. While I couldn’t relate to the bitterness on display, the tension between career goals and relationship investment is universal.
In the end, The Roses is a near miss. The themes are compelling, and the talent is undeniable, but the execution never comes together. Colman was enough of a draw to get me in the theater, but with a different pairing, the movie could have been something truly special.
