The Roses (2025) Film Review: Satirical black comedy dissecting marriage is an absolute blast

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Starring British national treasures Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, The Roses (2025) follows a successful and seemingly pitch-perfect couple as their marriage begins to fall apart when Theo's architectural career goes into disarray and Ivy's chef endeavors rapidly take off.

The film is loosely based on the 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler, and is a remake of the 1989 adaptation.

Directed by Jay Roach, who is most well known for helming the Austin Powers trilogy, as well as Meet the Parents (2000) and its sequel Meet the Fockers (2004), with a screenplay by Tony McNamara, a writer and producer celebrated for his sharp, witty scripts in movies like The Favourite (2018 - also coincidentally starring Colman) and Poor Things (2023).

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman star as a married couple on the brink of collapse as changes in careers and lifestyles force them to reevaluate their relationship

Both Roach and McNamara certainly make for an inspired pairing, with their backgrounds in producing successful comedies and McNamara in particular bringing his signature dark, satirical style to the film. When reflecting on his recent track record, it comes as no surprise that the quality of writing is one of the key highlights of this movie.

Dialogue exchanges between the two leads are ferocious and biting, cutting directly to the bone with their harsh nature and layered in plenty of dry, deadpan British wit. The script is packed full of intelligence and class, whilst also lending many moments of profane humour, which is so absurd that it is bound to move anyone to tears of laughter.

Cumberbatch and Colman's instinctual comedic timing is absolute dynamite, with their scathing passive aggression towards each other when in the company of their work colleagues and friends making for some of the film's most high-octane, meticulously crafted sequences. The humour is generally quite broad, with a darkly savage undercurrent always present throughout, appealing to a wide range of audience tastes.

Award-winning actress of stage and screen, Allison Janney, makes a fantastic minor appearance as Ivy's lawyer as the couple considers divorce. Nothing is standing in the way of this fierce lady!

It genuinely has to be up there as a high contender for one of the funniest films of the year, with the incredibly sharp dialogue and consistently entertaining back and forth between the leads, resulting in countless hysterical moments. Viewing the movie in the cinema with a large crowd on opening weekend was an absolute riot, as the whole room was full of delightful sniggers, chuckles, and laughter in response to the reliable commitment of the film's impressive writing and its stars.

Whilst being an absolute triumph in regards to its comedy, the movie also manages to ground itself within its relatable themes and genuine heartfelt moments of intimacy and connection between the couple.

Viewers are given a solid understanding of both characters and the difficulties they experience, such as Theo's devastation and re-evaluation of his career following a disastrous failure that went viral and completely tarnished his reputation, paving the way for Ivy to explore her talent in the kitchen and forge a popular, successful local business as a chef. Empathising for both parties becomes natural as it is easy to see where both sides are coming from, and thoroughly entertaining for us to engage with their story.

Theo and Ivy share a drink together on a flight towards a relaxing weekend getaway from it all - but will the calm atmosphere last?

There are several thought-provoking themes to unpack with its deep commentary on married life, which will likely touch many viewers who are engaged in a romantic relationship or have been with a partner for many years. The film explores issues of personal identity, with nihilism and egotism playing a large role in this couple's life, showcasing the envy and bitter resentment that can occur as a result of one becoming more successful than the other.

There is a tender examination of missed opportunities and potential, with Ivy's focus on her career taking her time away from her children, causing her to become emotionally distraught when she looks back on what she can never reclaim. Theo, who was originally the main breadwinner for the family, finds himself becoming a stay-at-home dad to raise their children, with the movie touching on masculine insecurity as he enters a period of ongoing depression and a sense of failure as he struggles to come to terms with the fallout of his once successful career.

All in all, The Roses is arguably one of the best crowd pleasers of the year and the definitive rom-com with a dark edge. Often outrageous and unashamedly bold in its satirical nature, yet still managing to offer strong character drama to maintain emotional investment, the film excels with excellent performances from its leads and a sharp screenplay that allows for a great balance of comedy and nuance.

Check out the trailer for The Roses (2025), and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!