'The Roses' Review: Colman and Cumberbatch Are a Toxic Match Made in Heaven
- Seb Jenkins
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
By Seb Jenkins - August 28, 2025
The War of the Roses remake pits Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch against one another in a fairy-tale marriage turned sour, turned downright diabolical.
Tony McNamara may have dropped ‘War’ from the title, but it certainly wasn’t dropped from the script. In a cinematic era of remakes and sequels, it would be easy to dismiss The Roses as yet another Hollywood cash grab, but Jay Roach injects enough charm, quintessential British repression, and downright insanity to fill a London bus. In the 2025 remake, based originally on the 1981 novel by Warren Adler, Michael Douglas is replaced by Cumberbatch, and Kathleen Turner passes the torch to Colman. However, there is no hint of dilution or tiredness on show. In fact, the seismic cultural shift over the past 36 years makes the satirical black comedy source material more than worth a visit.
What is The Roses about?
Theo Rose is a successful architect. Ivy Rose is a talented chef. When Hattie and Roy are welcomed into the world, Ivy puts her cast-iron skillet in cold water in order to raise the two children. However, when Theo suffers a very public disaster at work, stereotypical gender roles are challenged and reversed. Now forced to be a stay-at-home father, Theo tumbles down a rabbit hole of self-pity, jealousy, and resentment, while Ivy soars to the summits of cooking excellence. What was once an idyllic marriage set against the backdrop of beautiful Devon turns sour, then toxic, then mouth-wateringly murderous. As Ivy so eloquently puts it during the opening marriage counselling scene: “Theo… what a c**t!”
In all honesty, The Roses does not need a tagline. It does not need an eye-catching poster or clever promotion. It does not need a trailer or teaser, or two-page magazine feature. All it needs are two words: Colman and Cumberbatch. When two of the finest British actors of their generation come together to showcase all-out marriage warfare, you buy your ticket, you find your seat, and you eat your popcorn. Some may have forgotten all about Benedict Cumberbatch’s comedy chops from the likes of Starter for 10 and Four Lions, and we all know how Olivia Colman can beckon laughter at will from Peep Show to Fleabag and more recently, Wicked Little Letters. Both have an innate ability to flick from comedy to drama so fast it leaves you with whiplash, which creates a devious marital melting pot from which to brew tears, gasps, and laughter in equal measure. However, while it is nice to see Andy Samberg getting some more varied roles, Ncuti Gatwa felt criminally underused following his Dr Who curtain call.
If you are looking for a smorgasbord of sharp British humour, toxic marital arguments, and intrusive thoughts winning the day – this is the film for you. The Roses definitely has something to say about serious topics like gender stereotypes in the modern world, the pressures of marriage, the all-consuming nature of success, and the fragility of the male ego, but it makes sure to have a whole lot of fun saying it. A seriously unserious film with un-seriously serious undertones. The only question is: do Theo and Ivy deserve each other, or should the world have kept them apart at all costs?
'The Roses' releases in cinemas August 29
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