Director Jay Roach and writer Tony McNamara's new dark comedy film, “The Roses,” delves into the complexities of modern marriage, posing the question: Can a couple truly have it all, especially when both partners are artists? The film, an adaptation of Warren Adler’s comedic anti-romance novel, “The War of the Roses,” follows Ivy (Olivia Colman), a chef, and Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch), an architect, as they navigate their careers, marriage, and raising twins. Actress Allison Janney, who portrays an intimidatingly deadpan divorce lawyer in the film, reflected on the premise at the New York premiere, stating, “Two artists? It’s just incredibly difficult.” She added that a strong relational foundation is essential to weather such challenges.

The narrative explores a dramatic shift in the couple's dynamic when Ivy’s crab shack business achieves significant success while Theo’s latest architectural venture simultaneously collapses. This reversal of fortunes, where Theo becomes a stay-at-home dad and Ivy a career woman, sets the stage for a