Culture
‘The Roses’ is a dark comedy that proves that married life is no bed of roses
By: Gordon Briggs
Posted on:
Hollywood seems to be in the midst of a renaissance of breakup movies. Some fall into the category of horror, some are science fiction, and others are award-winning dramas about a fairy tale romance coming to a turbulent end.
Into the fray comes The Roses, a dark comedy from director Jay Roach that re-imagines the classic ‘80s satire on divorce, The War of the Roses, for a new era. While that original version was something new (it came out during a time when mainstream movies were softer and divorce rates were soaring), this version distinguishes itself with two effective performances, especially Olivia Coleman, and an unusual focus on food as a weapon.
Here, we meet Theo and Ivy, played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman, two people who outwardly appear to be the picture-perfect couple. They each have successful careers, lots of money, two healthy kids, and a seaside house that looks like an architect’s wet dream.
However, behind the facade, resentments are brewing. Theo and Ivy are each highly ambitious and fiercely competitive with one another. As time passes and bitterness grows, the two will engage in a fierce battle of one-upmanship that will destroy more than just their marriage.
I think a different movie might have made the two stars more likable by bickering in a less hostile and more comedic way (do you remember The Break-Up with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston?) However, in the The Roses, fighting is much more bitter and nuanced. There’s a volatility to their combat that doesn’t have the ring of rom-com banter.
For example, throughout the movie, Theo and Ivy will verbally pummel each other, then quickly forgive one another and declare a truce, and make up. That constant cycle of fighting, forgiving, and then resenting should resonate with anyone who has been part of an arguing couple.
If there’s one way this movie distinguishes itself, it’s in its use of food. At the start of the film, food is a symbol of love. Theo first encounters Ivy working in a kitchen, a moment that suggests their initial connection is centered on her talent and creativity. In the film, Ivy is a culinary artist who opens her own seafood restaurant called “We’ve Got Crabs.”
However, as their marriage dissolves, food is used as a tool for psychological warfare. Example: neither Theo nor Ivy is above poisoning their partner if it means they can get the house in the divorce. This isn’t Eat Pray Love romanticized “food porn.” This is the way food is used in The Menu and Parasite, where eating and dining are synonymous with class warfare and economic power.
If there is a gripe, it’s that the cast of supporting characters (which includes actors like Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon) doesn’t feel as well-developed as Theo and Ivy. Many of their jokes fall flat, and their roles could’ve been filled by any number of actors.
Still, The Roses manages to be an entertaining satire on consumerism and how we always hurt the one we love.
Rating: ★ ★★