Venice Film Festival is in full swing, which means we're gearing up for a cosy season filled with plenty of good movies.
One new film that's already got everyone talking is The Roses. The satirical black comedy is a reimagining of the 1989 classic war film The War Of The Roses, and based on the novel by Warren Adler. The movie follows Theo, an architect and Ivy, a chef, as their marriage becomes strained by their individual careers - and the bitter fallout that happens as a result.
As the tagline teases, 'Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love again. This is not that movie.'
What is The Roses about?
The Roses follows the story of a picture perfect couple - Ivy, played by Olivia Colman, and Theo, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. On the surface, things seem great for this duo - they have good careers, kids, and are loved up. But things turn sour when their careers go in different directions, with Ivy's taking off and Theo's nosediving. As hidden resentments brew and tension rises, their marriage falls apart - and the sabotage begins.
What do the reviews of The Roses say?
The reviews are flocking in thick and fast for the movie - and it's a mixed bag. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has scored 66%.
The Guardian gave the film two stars, with critic Peter Bradshaw calling it a 'feel bad' movie. He writes 'it is oddly, but not uninterestingly, composed throughout in feelgood romcom style. In casting terms, this is a Borg-McEnroe 10-set tie-break leading to play being suspended even as the leads bring every microlitre of their technique to the game.'
Empire gave the film three stars. Critic Helen O'Hara writes 'Perhaps because of Colman’s innate warmth and Cumberbatch’s ability to be self-deprecating, it’s never quite as venomous as the original, but it does still manage to mix some shocks into its humour,' continuing 'This is really a positive admonition to keep a tight hold of whatever love you once had, remember why you’re together, and keep the lines of communication in your relationship open. The alternative could be fatal.'
The BBC were more generous, giving the film four stars, with critic Caryn James calling it 'a smart, wild, entertaining mix of droll British humour and glossy Hollywood film-making.' She writes 'Throughout, Colman and Cumberbatch's performances make the dialogue much funnier than it sounds in print,' adding that it's a 'piercing black comedy' that is 'played with droll perfection.'
Our take? This one is definitely one to see if you need to pass some time over the rainy weekend. Just don't blame us if it makes you think twice about those marriage vows...
Alice Hall is the Staff Writer at Grazia UK. She was previously a Junior Features Writer for The Daily Telegraph. At Grazia, she writes news and features about pop culture, dating, health, politics and interiors.