The Roses Review
Razor sharp, witty, hilarious, and anchored by some wonderful thesps, The Roses is pure acerbic joy writ large.
When architect Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) has a work disaster, he finds himself out of a job. Luckily, his wife Ivy (Olivia Coleman) has just achieved massive success in her restaurant. But with their traditional gender roles swapped, the pair find themselves constantly at loggerheads. Can the duo, through all of their wry British banter, find the love that brought them together as the challenges of life seem intent on driving them apart?
The Roses is a rare gem, particularly in the dialogue department. This film absolutely zings off the page, and the frequent biting wit is a joy to behold. Acerbic barbs, endless riffs, and wonderful asides all come together to keep you grinning, if not laughing out loud, throughout the entire runtime.
But words alone are not enough, they must be spoken by someone, and in Coleman and Cumberbatch the film has two actors at the top of their game when it comes to this material, truly chewing through the witty repartee in a way that feels effortless, compelling and real. The British sensibility is on full display here indeed.
The supporting cast is also strong, with some highlight moments in particular from Zoe Chao.
The film somewhat falters visually and in plot. While the main thrust of the couple’s relationship is always strong, the surrounding trappings - an architectural story and a budding restaurateur tale, along with a little jaunt to NYC - feel jarringly American. Additionally, the visuals can’t stack up, particularly when dealing with the CG architecture works, or even in the set design that feels a little too staid, Modern Family-esque at times.
At the end of the day, however, this movie is not about the visual trappings. It’s about interrogating the joys of a life spent with someone who equally loves you and grinds your gears, and the ways in which a well formed, well defended argument can be as enjoyable as the most fun-filled day. This is a film you see for the dialogue and performance, both of which it has in spades.
