“The Roses,” a new dark comedy directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, offers a fresh, 21st-century perspective on the anti-romantic-comedy genre, drawing inspiration from Warren Adler’s novel and indirectly from Danny DeVito’s 1989 film “The War of the Roses.” Starring Olivia Colman as chef Ivy Rose and Benedict Cumberbatch as architect Theo Rose, the film delves into the complexities of modern marriage, depicting how a seemingly perfect partnership can devolve into bitter acrimony when life circumstances, particularly career shifts, challenge its foundation.

The narrative of "The Roses" begins in a high-stakes couple’s therapy session, where Ivy and Theo demonstrate a relationship that thrives on biting repartee, exchanging insults rather than endearments, much to their therapist's horror but to their own amusement. The film then flashes back to their initial passionate connection, showing a steamy meet-cute in a restaurant kitchen leading to an instant physical attraction. They establish themselves as a charismatic and witty duo, navigating their non-compatible parenting styles to raise a respectful son and daughter. However, their dynamic drastically shifts when Theo’s ambitious architectural project collapses, derailing his career, while Ivy’s nascent crab shack business unexpectedly booms with success. This reversal of fortunes ignites depression and jealousy in Theo, testing the couple’s compatibility and transforming their relationship into a battleground of humiliation and destruction.

While not a direct remake, Roach’s "The Roses" consciously departs from DeVito’s “The War of the Roses,” aiming for a less belligerent "skirmish" rather than a full-blown "war." The film explores the nuances of power shifts within a marriage, recognizing that there is more to say about how love can sour over time. Critics have noted that while Colman and Cumberbatch deliver strong individual performances, the scorching chemistry seen between Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in the 1989 original is somewhat missing, potentially impacting the film's central tension despite the script's verbal brilliance.

The ensemble cast includes Allison Janney as an intimidatingly deadpan divorce lawyer, Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon as a couple whose marriage has gone cold (with McKinnon's character frequently pursuing Theo), and Jamie Demetriou and Zoë Chao as another pair whose unspoken resentments simmer beneath the surface. Cumberbatch, known for his dramatic roles, considers Theo a step into something "new," appreciating the character's emotional intuition, impulsiveness, and capacity for both love and hatred. McNamara initially had reservations about revisiting the classic film but was convinced by the opportunity to create a story more focused on the intricacies of marriage itself. Director Jay Roach brought personal insights into romantic relationships to the project, highlighting how both spouses in the film are guilty of ego and career entanglement.

“The Roses” has been praised for its fresh wit, sharp script, and the spirited performances of Colman and Cumberbatch, who, despite their characters' escalating cruelty, maintain a glint of true love. The film manages to make divorce hilariously funny, even if some critics felt the rapid transition to hardship didn't fully explore the testing of a couple's compatibility. Opening on August 29, the Searchlight Pictures production promises a clever, feisty, and modern examination of marital breakdown, suggesting that “The Roses” by any other name might not have turned out as sweet.