Movie Review: The Roses

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An often-hilarious comedy. 

Jay Roach's loose remake of War of the Roses (1989) is a rare comedy remake that is actually funnier than the original. The storyline of two people falling out of love and considering divorce is hardly a comedic premise. However, the filmmakers and the cast are able to deliver many truly great laughs out of it. I was caught by surprise by how much I truly laughed watching this film (for once the previews actually showed the least funny parts). Judging by the audience in the theatre with me, I am not alone in thinking this movie is absolutely hilarious. For most of this film's runtime, it delivered laugh after laugh. These laughs come equally from Tony McNamara's witty and observant script and Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman's great delivery of many of the jokes. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman truly add a delightfully wry British wit to many of the jokes that is simply delightful. 

As well as being funny, this movie actually makes us care about the characters. We relate to and feel for them as we are often allowed to put ourselves in their shoes. This is enhanced by us being allowed to gradually see the couple fall out of love. We true believe that they are completely in love with each other as the movie starts and the way they grow to resent each other is completely believable. Helping this out to is that the side characters are also quite well written with each of them having distinct personalities. This is especially shown in comparisons between the main couple and another couple they are friends with. This couple is also having quite a bit of trouble and though this is handled with broad comedy, contrasting how these two couples handle their problems actually brings some emotional weight to the story. 

As hilarious and delightful as this film is for most of its runtime, it loses momentum in its final act. At this point the way that the couple gets back at each other goes into over the top and needless cruel territory. This even includes some over the top cartoon like gags that feel at odds with the nature of the story and characters. If we didn't care about these characters so much or if the film set up an atmosphere where we weren't supposed to take anything seriously (something akin a Three Stooges short), these gags might have been quite funny. However, as they are the gags come off as mean spirited and unpleasant. The movie does redeem itself a tiny bit in this last act with a truly hilarious bit of dark comedy at the very end and quite a funny scene involving their kids. 

Despite a weak last act, the rest of this movie is truly hilarious and what more could you want from a comedy.