Love, Jealousy and Family Apocalypse: A Review of Comedy-Drama "The Roses" - Benedict Cumberbatch's New Film

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On the surface, they're the perfect couple. He's a successful architect, she's a celebrity chef, and together they look like something straight off the cover of a lifestyle magazine about living your best life.

But in the new dramedy "The Roses" from Jay Roach, that idyll crumbles overnight: when Theo loses his job and Ivy's career takes off, their perfect family facade starts to crack. What follows is a barrage of resentment, sarcastic jabs, and genuine marital hell.

When paradise becomes a battlefield

"The Roses" reimagines the cult classic "The War of the Roses" from 1989 by Danny DeVito, which once set the standard for dark marriage comedies.

Now the spotlight's on Theo ( ) and Ivy (Olivia Colman). Their sunny California home, built by Cumberbatch's character, becomes the arena for a cold war where love and hatred blur beyond recognition.

Cumberbatch and Colman tear each other apart

Cumberbatch, known for dramas and cerebral roles like Holmes in "Sherlock" or the puppeteer in "Eric", lets loose with comedic freedom here, and it works—his Theo irritates, amuses, and evokes sympathy all at once.
The Roses movie trailer
Colman, according to critics' reviews, also goes all out, returning to her comedic roots and blending absurdity with genuine pain.

The pair creates an excellent duo that rightfully drives the entire film.

When supporting characters become background noise

The film features bright cameos from Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon as the Roses' friends, and their marriage jokes sometimes feel more alive than the central conflict itself.

The rest of the cast gets overshadowed, making the picture less rich than it could have been.

Dark comedy without real darkness

Screenwriter Tony McNamara ("Poor Things") clearly softened the original, removing its darkest satirical edge.

According to reviewer Ross Bonaime from Collider, "The Roses" feels more like an ironic comedy with tragic notes than a true dark comedy. This makes the film clever and amusing rather than genuinely vicious.

What critics are saying

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at 67% "fresh" after early critic screenings. Praise centers on the Cumberbatch-Colman duo, who elevate even the weaker scenes.
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch in a blue blazer embraces actress Olivia Colman in a striped sweater
Stills from The Roses movie
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"This is a savage comedy," writes Awards Radar. But some reviewers fault the film for being wishy-washy: "too sweet to be dark, and too dark to be sweet." NYC Movie Guru called it "tedious and only occasionally funny."

Should you watch it?

"The Roses" won't become the new genre classic, but it'll satisfy anyone wanting to see Cumberbatch and Colman in unexpectedly wicked comedic form. It's not as dark as DeVito's original, but it's not sanitized family fare either: sometimes funny, sometimes painful, and occasionally both at once.

The comedy premieres on August 29, 2025. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com reviewed the series "Peacemaker"—the best superhero project of all time.