The Roses: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch make up for inconsistent comedy
It’s surprising that Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch haven’t starred in a film before because they work so perfectly together. Their rapport and platonic chemistry make The Roses as enjoyable as it is.
The Roses, a loose remake of 1989’s The War of the Roses, follows Theo and Ivy Rose (Cumberbatch and Colman). They have two children, a gorgeous home in California and seem to be so in love. But the failures, successes and resentments build over the years and drive a wedge between them, eventually causing them to detest each other and take drastic actions to get their house amid a bitter divorce.
I had high hopes for The Roses, given the calibre of the leads, Austin Powers director Jay Roach and writer Tony McNamara, known for his whipsmart dialogue in The Favourite and The Great (among others). But the comedy is incredibly inconsistent here. Some lines had me absolutely howling, but others fell so flat. They decided to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks, but perhaps it would have been better off with some quality control.
Many unnecessary side characters add very little. The only supporting character that felt needed was their lawyer friend Barry (Andy Samberg). If you removed the characters played by Kate McKinnon, Jamie Demetriou and Zoe Chao, it would have literally no impact on anything. They’re there to be weird and provide additional comedy, but none of them are particularly effective in that regard. Bless McKinnon, she really throws herself into being a creep, but it’s more cringe comedy than funny comedy. Ncuti Gatwa should have also been given more to do as one of Ivy’s employees.
The selling point of The Roses is the screwball action comedy at the end – and the majority of it has been given away in the trailer, so you know what’s coming. As silly and amusing as it is, this section only lasts about 10-15 minutes. The story is more about the journey of how they went from being the perfect couple to being at each other’s throats. And I liked this side of the story better.
I was engrossed watching the evolution of their marriage and the exploration of traditional gender roles. What happens when they’re reversed and the woman becomes the breadwinner and the man becomes the primary caregiver? Theo is proud of Ivy’s successful restaurant until her career surpasses his. (Speaking of the restaurant: It was very obviously filmed in the UK instead of California). It gets a bit ridiculous when the shit hits the fan with their relationship.
But I have no complaints with Colman and Cumberbatch. While I didn’t buy them as a couple romantically, they bounce off each other brilliantly and their sparring matches and put-downs are hilarious. They look like they’re having so much fun. Cumberbatch should do comedies more often. This is Colman’s comfort zone, and she is delightful as the chilled-out mum with a cheeky, mischievous streak.
The Roses is very hit and miss, but it’s worth a watch for Colman and Cumberbatch.
In cinemas from Friday 29th August and on Disney+ from Wednesday 3rd December