The Roses is directed by veteran comedy director Jay Roach, with a script written by two-time Oscar nominee Tony McNamara. It is based on the popular 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler, and sort of is the remake of its first on screen adaptation from 1989 film of the same name. The film follows Theo Rose a successful architect and his wife Ivy Rose an up-and-coming restaurateur through many years of their marriage and how it evolved and changed them over the years. Played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, these characters bring your worst nightmare to life while turning your belly up with dark humour that has been missing from the screens for a long time.

Theo and Ivy meet as spontaneously and erratically as the rest of their life decisions. While Ivy is a chef at a restaurant, Theo is working with a design firm that he does not agree on anything with. To take a break from them, he decides to step in the kitchen and almost immediately Ivy catches his eye. Their one conversation dictates the rest of their lives and possibly years of turmoil. The two decide to move together to the US and end up starting a life together.

Ten years later, both are happily married with two kids in California awaiting, the opening of Theo’s biggest project yet, a museum in the shape of a boat. With more money coming in, Theo and Ivy decide it is time for Ivy to also live her dream of running her own restaurant. With kids to take care of she opens the restaurant for three days a week while also running the family with Theo’s help. However, one freak accident changes their lives, again. One of the biggest storm their city has ever seen gets Ivy’s restaurant recognised by the biggest food critic, while the same night Theo’s newly built museum plummets to the sea in the storm.

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Soon their life takes a turn, the family dynamic changes and chaos ensues. Theo takes over the family as Ivy begins to open chains of her restaurant. The makers have credited he book as its original source material but sticks to the most important moments in the lives of Theo and Ivy’s marriage. With a short runtime, the makers take off the book as the jumping point to the story of their live and dives into the kind of people they eventually become. While the performances are remarkable, it is the screenplay and the dark, self deprecating British humour that really is the cheery on the top.

Apart from Olivia and Benedict the film also stars Andy Samberg as Barry and Kate McKinnon as Amy in supporting characters. Both appear only in moments when Theo and Ivy are experiencing some big changes in their lives, but their constant appearances solidifies the comic flow and the growth of all the characters. The running gags of infidelity between these at first feel over the top and baseless, but the film also justifies each one of them with great depth.

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What makes The Roses a good watch is between the moments that Benedict and Olivia have together and the ones they have on their own. Their unfiltered thoughts exposing our own while, their interaction preserving their relationship with the ending being the biggest irony of it all. Amid all the love and chaos, the makers also offer great foreshadowing which only feels rewarding with the downfall of their relationship. It is the very humane and relentless stupidity of these characters that make them relatable and make you fall in love with them.

Overall, The Roses is a must watch for fans of British comedy, dark humour, satirical love stories and great performances. It will have you laughing your arse off and humble you just as quickly.

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