The upcoming film “The Roses,” starring acclaimed actors Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, explores the complexities of marriage and relationships. Jay Roach directed the film, demonstrating again his ability to mix warmth and humor with serious topics. A smart and funny twist on Warren Adler’s 1981 classic novel, “The War of the Roses,” this film comes as a spiritual follow-up to Waiting to Exhale.
Colman, 51, and Cumberbatch, 49, portray a couple navigating the ups and downs of their relationship while raising three children. In a thought-provoking trip, the film explores American and British pros and cons on love, marriage, and domestic life. Alongside Colman and Cumberbatch, the cast features Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, Kate McKinnon, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, and Andy Samberg.
The picture’s screenplay has been artfully sculpted by Tony McNamara, the Australian scribe best known for his work with director Yorgos Lanthimos. As he adapts Adler’s source material, McNamara aims to bring out the humor in the often mundane and sometimes brutal realities of married life.
Colman said she was excited that the story would center on women’s domestic lives. She continued, “The great thing about this is it’s not about genders, it’s about roles at home. So this could be a same-sex couple. This approach opens up the film to a wide viewership while still inviting discussion about modern issues affecting lots of couples today.
Cumberbatch expressed similar thoughts on how the film handles the ebb and flow of their characters’ relationship. David remarked that despite their characters’ clear hostility to one another, “There’s no trust issue. They’re not cheating on each other. Taking these issues to task in unexpected fashion, he joked that a third-party caretaker would have likely solved many of the couple’s hurdles.
Colman joked, “I don’t know why this was all solved by a nanny. His comment emphasized how often the best technical solutions are out of reach for couples in crisis. The witty banter between the two leads also establishes the film’s humorous nature, but don’t be mistaken—Funny Pages deals with heavy subject matter.
As the film progresses, it creatively juxtaposes various cultural norms that shape perceptions of marriage discord. Cumberbatch pointed out an interesting dynamic: “It taps into that cliché: that Brits say to each other things that are really quite cruel, cold and barbed – and Americans just think it’s funny.” This unique observation, specific to comedy, extends to larger inquiries on the nature of cross-cultural humor and how it breeds friendship.
The film doesn’t stop there. It explores the more profound aspects of love as well. Cumberbatch emphasized that “Classicism has provided us with this kind of romantic fantasy of love. To society relationships are very complicated and in real life it’s much easier than that.
That’s when she threw in a little Colman-like flourish on the realities of matrimony. She told us to enjoy it, and then just go home. Clean up some dog vomit or whatever to ground you. This funny premise sums up the message at the heart of the movie—that healthy, loving relationships are beautiful, but love has its ugly obligations.
Combining elements of comedy and drama, “The Roses” seeks to blend effective storytelling with thought-provoking commentary about today’s relationships. The film’s exploration of marriage resonates deeply within today’s context, demonstrating that while love can be complex, it is filled with moments of laughter and affection.