? A marital nightmare in The Roses: A remake of the 1989 classic film The Warof the Roses and an adaptation of the 1981 novel of the same name, The Roses follows a couple whose love for one another has faded, leading them into a battle that pushes them towards separation. The good news? They’re played by Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, so you know you’re in for a treat.

How the cookie crumbles: Theo Rose (Cumberbatch), an architect living in London, meets Ivy (Colman), a professional chef, by chance at a restaurant. It’s love at first sight, and Theo uproots his life to move to California, where they marry and welcome twins into their lives. Theo starts working for an architectural design firm and finishes work on his masterpiece: a building on the edge of a harbor symbolizing the history of the state. Theo encourages Ivy to pursue her own dream: a seafood restaurant.

The winds of change blow: When a literal massive storm hits, destroying the building Theo designed — and with it, his career — the couple’s trajectory changes. On that same night, Ivy’s restaurant thrives as customers seeking shelter come in droves. Among them is a famous critic who praises the restaurant, bringing newfound success to Ivy’s humble culinary dream.

Love gives way to resentment: Theo finds himself falling in a pit of depression, with his career now stained by an unforgettable disaster. Ivy is gone for days at a time, busy with her booming business. Small conflicts turn into bigger ones, and jealousy, resentment, and anger fills the house as the couple attempts to salvage what they can.

A masterclass in acting: There’s not much that needs to be said about a movie starring two seasoned on-screen veterans such as Cumberbatch and Colman. The film tackles a painful tragedy with a cynical and humorous tone, interspersed with emotional moments that left an impact.

The writing is incredible, and the dialogue is clever, knowing when to draw laughs and trigger tears. The sequence of events is smooth, moving between past, present, and future with practiced ease — essentially summarizing an entire lifetime. The Roses takes audiences from the moment both characters meet all the way to a shocking, satirical, and comedic final scene, which left a smile on our faces.

Showstopping performances all around: One of our favorite scenes was the appearance of actress Allison Janney as Eleanor, Ivy’s lawyer. Our only complaint was that we hoped she would get more screen time. And while Amy (Kate McKinnon), the couple’s American friend, often made us cringe, she kept the laughs coming, especially in scenes with her husband Perry (Andy Samberg).

As we neared the final act, we realized that this was a film we wanted to see again. The Roses redefines satirical romcoms through the integration of masterful acting and cinematography. It presents a realistic story wrapped in layers of cynicism, dark comedy, and emotional moments.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch The Roses at VOX Cinemas in City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and Mall of Alexandria. The film is also screening at City Stars Cinema, Scene Cinemas at CFCM and District 5, Cima Arkan, Zawya, and P90 Cinema. Catch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:34).

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