{"id":311400,"date":"2025-11-22T14:36:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T14:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/acting\/the-roses-2025-the-remake-we-didnt-need\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T14:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T14:36:30","slug":"the-roses-2025-the-remake-we-didnt-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=311400","title":{"rendered":"The Roses (2025): The Remake We Didn’t Need"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Director Jay Roach<\/a>, gives us the 2025 Dark Comedy The Roses<\/strong><\/em>. This really is the remake we didn\u2019t need. The film is, a loose remake of the superlative and achingly funny 1989 Dark Comedy The War of the Roses<\/em><\/strong>. That film starred Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. DeVito did double duty as the director. Writers on both films are Warren Adler<\/a> and Tony McNamara<\/a> who apparently lost their way from the 89\u2032 project to this new version. <\/p>\n

*If you have not seen the original, head on over to Amazon Prime and rent the thing for pennies. You will, I promise you, become an instant fan. If not? No refunds, thank you.*<\/p>\n

I wanted to like\/love The Roses<\/em><\/strong>. A Olivia Colman fan since Hot Fuzz<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and think that Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant. I am also a devotee of Kate McKinnon since her start way back when on SNL. The story here, though, is nowhere near a patch on the Douglas\/Turner vehicle. <\/p>\n

The Roses Story<\/h2>\n

Per IMDb.com: \u201cA tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the fa\u00e7ade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband\u2019s professional dreams come crashing down.\u201d Wow. What a mouthful. The 1989 film, same source, says: \u201cA married couple tries everything to drive each other out of the house in a vicious divorce battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The synopsis for the 89 film can easily apply to the new one on offer. This may well be the crux of the problem. <\/p>\n

The Roses Cast<\/h2>\n

Olivia Colman<\/a> is Ivy Rose.<\/p>\n

Benedict Cumberbatch<\/a> is Theo Rose.<\/p>\n

Kate McKinnon<\/a> is Amy.<\/p>\n

Andy Samberg<\/a> is Barry.<\/p>\n

Ncuti Gatwa<\/a> is Jeffrey.<\/p>\n

Sunita Mani<\/a> is Jane.<\/p>\n

Zo\u00eb Chao<\/a> is Sally.<\/p>\n

The Rose Kids<\/h3>\n

Delaney Quinn<\/a> is Young Hattie.<\/p>\n

Hala Finley<\/a> is Older Hattie.<\/p>\n

Ollie Robinson<\/a> is Young Rose.<\/p>\n

Wells Rappaport<\/a> is Older Roy.<\/p>\n

Killer Cameo<\/h3>\n

Allison Janney<\/a> is Eleanor.<\/p>\n

Kudos to: The casting director in the matter of the young Roses. Also, kudos to the actors portraying the Rose children, younger and older. These guys and dolls killed it here. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Talk The Roses<\/h2>\n

Stereotypes are used unapologetically. To the film\u2019s detriment, I might add. All Americans are gun \u201cnuts.\u201d English humour is rude, crude and socially unacceptable. *To American\u2019s, yes it can seem that way, but for a country who adore Monty Python, it feels a tad, off. Just as Colman\u2019s character calling football, soccer. No brit in the world refers to \u201cThe Beautiful Game\u201d as soccer.*<\/p>\n

Perhaps the greatest problem with The Roses <\/em><\/strong>is the move to make it more about the comedy and less about the dark, as midnight, comedic roots it comes from. <\/p>\n

The War of the Roses<\/em><\/strong>, sorry I will keep harping on about this, got its comedy from the total vitriolic hatred that Turner\u2019s character develops for her husband; Oliver. Take this scene, for example. Barbara, \u201cBecause. When I watch you eat. When I see you asleep. When I look at you lately, I just want to smash your face in.\u201d His response? \u201cGo ahead, smash my face.\u201d (sic) <\/p>\n

She does. <\/p>\n

Vive Le Difference<\/h2>\n

This time around, there is very little hatred, and a modicum of violence. The vicious irony has been left out, although the ending of this version is a tad ironic. The biggest problem here is, among other things, making the two leads English. That said, Cumberbatch and Colman work well as a couple. Even when they are going through their tough patch, they bounce off one another brilliantly. <\/p>\n

Sadly, despite the focus on comedy, of not the darkish sort, the film is not as funny. Douglas and Turner, with DeVito as narrator and referee, is funnier. The chandelier scene, at the film\u2019s end just cannot be beat. <\/p>\n

The Roses Just About Works <\/h2>\n

Jay Roach has a splendid track record for comedy films. This time around, though, the move to make this less dark, while working, leaves so much to be desired. <\/p>\n

There are nods to the first film. The issue of sugar and eating too much of it is broached. It is just not funny. Kate McKinnon is truly funny as the odd and overly promiscuous friend who clearly has the hots for Theo. *In terms of working, the maritime museum fiasco is quite possibly the funniest bit of the entire film. <\/p>\n

The Verdict<\/h2>\n

The Roses<\/em><\/strong> earns a shaky 3.75 stars out of 5. The film is funny, to a degree. However, the journey the Roses make here, unlike the vastly superior The War of the Roses<\/em><\/strong>, is missing. We have a snapshot of their life together before things go all Pete Tong. In the original, we follow their journey. The remake is streaming on Hulu\/Disney + and can be rented\/purchased for an obscene amount of dosh. <\/p>\n

The Trailer<\/h2>\n
\n

\n