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The Roses review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch face off in white-hot divorce comedy
It needs to be said: Danny DeVito is underrated as a comedy director. The movie star turned It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia savior is certainly best known for a long list of film and television appearances (including Taxi) that are outrageously, unforgettably funny. But he's also helmed such memorable movies as the whimsical Matilda, the twisted Strangers on a Train parody Throw Momma from the Train, the cruelly underrated Barney-inspired Death to Smoochy, and the hot comedy The War of the Roses. In fact, the shadow DeVito cast is so long that even as I discuss a remake of The War of the Roses that he has nothing to do with, I can't help but herald his contribution to comedy — in part because DeVito would never have given us The Roses.
Look, on paper, The Roses sounds sensational.
Adapted from the same Warren Adler novel as DeVito's 1989 The War of the Roses, this modern screenplay is written by Tony McNamara, whose scripts for The Favourite and Poor Things earned him Oscar nominations and critical acclaim. Promisingly, The Roses reunites him with Olivia Colman, the Academy Award-winning comedic dark star of The Favourite, and an actress who's been cracking this critic up since the British series Peep Show. And she's paired opposite Benedict Cumberbatch, who is less known for comedy but has been mixing it up with films like The Phoenician Scheme and The Grinch.
Adding a generous slathering of comedy chops, the supporting cast is stacked with the likes of Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, and Zoë Chao. The Roses should be wall-to-wall laughs, ranging from giggles to guffaws to shocked gasps.
And yet, this just isn't all that funny. I blame director Jay Roach.
The Roses isn't funny or ferocious enough.
Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Searchlight Pictures
DeVito's The War of the Roses is framed as a parable against divorce, told by the director himself, who plays the central couple's friend and a divorce attorney who serves as a sage narrator across the decades-long rise and fall of the Roses. From the start, McNamara's approach goes for something different by introducing a framing voiceover by the Roses themselves, Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch). In singsong voices, they reflect on how the film will end (true to the first movie), but with a surprisingly upbeat attitude. While there will be a twist on this voiceover's context, this chipper change does reflect the overall tonal shift from the biting 1989 version and the bizarrely bouncy 2025 remake.
The general plot is the same: Theo was once the breadwinner of their household, while his wife, a baking genius who could make amazing culinary constructions modeled after landmarks, cared for their two kids — who have gotten too chubby for Theo's liking. When his career takes an unexpected downturn, hers is on the rise! And resentments grow. He takes on raising their kids, turning them away from sweets and toward sprints. She is working long hours and experiencing an adult world that feels increasingly distant from Theo. When divorce comes, it's acrimonious, and centered on who will get their dream house.
The new twist here is that the husband is an architect who built his dream house with the profits from his wife's restaurants. So, Theo doesn't want to give up his masterpiece, and she — bitter over the split — doesn't want to give him it exactly because he wants it. (In DeVito's, the husband was a lawyer whose wife bought and led the renovations on their home, which he paid for.) An increasingly immature series of pranks becomes increasingly dangerous, and even deadly. And while some dialogue and certain ploys at revenge hit hard, many of the jokes don't land. What happened?
Jay Roach lacks the bite for The Roses.
Credit: Lara Cornell / Searchlight Pictures
To Roach's credit, he succeeds in establishing Ivy and Theo as a couple once ravenously in love. The scene of their first meeting feels exciting and hot, climaxing with the pair rushing into a restaurant's freezer for a quickie before they've even shared their names. This irreverence for common decorum surfaces throughout the film, reflecting a shared impulsiveness as they exchange barbs brutal but funny even to each other, or ditch a dull dinner party by faking an utterly bizarre emergency.
Cumberbatch and Colman have solid chemistry in such scenes, and both have the devastating intensity to make McNamara's most stinging lines land. But the tone that Roach offers is just achingly middle-of-the-road. Punches feel pulled at nearly every turn. A mean comment is almost immediately undercut by an emotional catharsis, be it a burst of screaming or a jaunty justification.
Roach's Roses lacks the gothic flair of DeVito's, which had its stars perform with an almost soap opera-like theatricality as they spat invectives against a rollicking musical score, which played like a storm brewing. By contrast, Roach's tone is broader, in the vein of his hits like Meet the Parents or his similarly lackluster remake Dinner for Schmucks. The flare, daffiness, and daring he brought to Austin Powers is long behind him. And The Roses is the worse for its absence.
Not until the final act do the Roses amp up their war to the blisteringly comic levels teased in the trailer, and by then it feels too little too late in terms of verve or style. Worse still, the transition from bouncy American comedy with occasional mean jokes feels downright jarring when it comes to the point where they're actually aiming to kill each other. Rather than the inevitable path DeVito's lawyer once warned us of, this last act of The Roses just feels like we've walked into a different movie altogether.
Kate McKinnon is woefully miscast in The Roses.
Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Searchlight Pictures
Throughout the film. Roach seems to regret taking on a dark comedy, peppering his cast with comedians far more known for goofiness than wilting wit. Samberg is in the DeVito role of the husband's friend/lawyer, but is saddled with a barrage of cliched asides about the "inertia" of marriage. Even his signature warmth and silliness can't shake off the cobwebs of such dusty jokes.
His partner onscreen is fellow SNL alum McKinnon, who, though she was a wondrous scene-stealer in Barbie, is actually exhausting here, beating a one-note joke into the ground. As a horny wifey, she wants to bang Cumberbatch's Theo. It's her only character trait besides being awkward. And whether it's flirtations that are vaguely threatening or done in front of her husband as brazen emasculation, they just aren't funny, even in a cringe sensibility. Yet Roach treats this thread like rich terrain, endlessly giving McKinnon screen time to flirt clumsily, but never hilariously.
Other comedic talents are likewise misused. Sunita Mani (Death of a Unicorn) and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) have bit parts as Ivy's loyal sous chef and head waiter, mugging possibly more often than they actually get lines. Jamie Demetriou, a master of offbeat comedy, and Zoë Chao, who shined in The Afterparty, get only a couple of scenes as an annoying couple who can't read social cues.
The only scene where supporting players bring the heat this comedy desperately needs is when Allison Janney and Samberg face off in a scene that's very reminiscent of A Marriage Story. Samberg is the bumbling male attorney cowed by the ferocious female lawyer, who is equal amounts vicious and step-on-my-neck sexy as hell. Janney is perfectly cast and makes a meal out of every diva-like line. Joan Crawford would be proud.
The Roses lacks thorns and pricks.
While Cumberbatch is committed, Colman is a heavier hitter when it comes to nasty comedy. His cutting remarks score the occasional chuckle, but hers land like you'd expect from a royal bitch (like her queen in The Favourite) — devastating and regal. In these moments, we see a glimpse of what this could have been for The Roses. But Roach seems scared of giving his audience some truly detestable characters, so at every turn their bitterness is undercut by sidekicks yukking it up or an earnest attempt to even the scales with a new emotional twist or revealed vulnerability. All this softening blunts the cutting comedy that was the dark heart of DeVito's The War of the Roses (no, I never read the book). And here, it feels less dark and more a tad saucy.
A comedy about a couple gone so toxic that they're actively competing to murder each other over their dream house should be more dynamic, darker, and damned funny. The Roses by any other name would still be a middling comedy, but compared to the caustic and sexy '89 gem? It can't shine.
The Roses opens in theaters Aug. 28.
Renewing driver's licenses, obtaining marriage certificates, and conducting any government business were impossible on Monday in Nevada, following a "significant state network degradation affecting the ability to conduct normal business," according to the state attorney general's office.
Nevada closed all in-person services at state offices on Monday following the "network security incident," which was first detected early Sunday, according to a press statement from Gov. Joe Lombardo. While the in-person services were unavailable because of the outage, emergency services and 911 remained online.
The websites of the governor, the state attorney general, and the state Department of Motor Vehicles remained unavailable as of 3 p.m. PT on Monday.
It's not clear if the network issues were malicious, but the FBI is investigating the matter, according to CNN.
Lombardo's office warned Nevadans to be wary of those who may take advantage of the shutdown and to specifically "be cautious of unsolicited calls, emails, or texts asking for personal information or payments." Lombardo's office also stated that there is no evidence yet that any Nevadans' personal data was breached.
Elon Musk threatened to sue Apple for favoring ChatGPT over Grok in the App Store — and now he has.
On Monday, Musk's AI company xAI officially filed a lawsuit against Apple as well as ChatGPT creator OpenAI over the two companies' business partnership.
Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.
"This is a tale of two monopolists joining forces to ensure their continued dominance in a world rapidly driven by the most powerful technology humanity has ever created: artificial intelligence," reads the opening of xAI's lawsuit.
"Working in tandem, Defendants Apple and OpenAI have locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing," the suit continues.
xAI's issue with Apple and OpenAI
xAI's suit claims that Apple boosts ChatGPT in the Apple App Store to the detriment of competing AI apps, like xAI's Grok.
"Apple has taken further steps to protect its monopoly in smartphones and to preference OpenAI by deprioritizing the apps of competing generative AI chatbots and super apps in its App Store rankings, and it has dragged out its App Store app review processes for those competitors," the lawsuit reads.
Alleged abuses of the App Store charts are only part of the suit, however. xAI's lawsuit also claims that Apple and OpenAI are partaking in monopolistic activities more broadly.
According to xAI, Apple's partnership with OpenAI, which includes integrating ChatGPT into Mac and iOS devices to power some Apple Intelligence features, has boxed Musk's company out of the AI race.
"As a result of Apple and OpenAI’s exclusive arrangement, ChatGPT is the only generative AI chatbot that benefits from billions of user prompts originating from hundreds of millions of iPhones," reads xAI's lawsuit. "This makes it hard for competitors of ChatGPT’s generative AI chatbot and super apps powered by generative AI chatbots to scale and innovate."
Will Musk and company beat Apple and OpenAI?
Prior to the lawsuit, Musk claimed on his social media platform X that it was "impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store."
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However, users on Musk's platform disputed this using X's Community Notes feature. The Community Note embedded on Musk's posts provides proof that OpenAI competitors like DeepSeek and Perplexity have all reached #1 in App Store, even after the Apple and OpenAI partnership was formed.
Even so, a recent antitrust decision may work in Musk's favor. Last year Google lost an antitrust case concerning its paid partnership with Apple, which provided Google with the default search engine position on Apple's mobile devices. While there are differences between Apple's relationship with both companies, that case could become relevant here.
So, does Musk and xAI have a case here, or is he simply unhappy that his beloved Grok app hasn't taken off like its AI competitors? We'll soon find out as this plays out in court.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
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The show of the summer isn't over yet, y'all. Your favorite Islanders from Love Island USA Season 7 are returning to dish on the juicy drama inside the Villa in a new reunion special.
Catch up with the cast, relive the dumpings, and find out which couples are still together in one last drama-packed night. Here's everything you need to know to watch the reunion episode.
How can I watch the Love Island USA reunion?
The Love Island USA Season 7 reunion, which was filmed in New York City, airs Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. It's only fitting, given that all episodes of Season 7 are also available to stream on Peacock.
Who will be on the Love Island USA Season 7 reunion?
The Season 7 cast flocked to New York City for the taping of the reunion show. It will feature newly crowned winners Amaya and Bryan, as well as other fan-favorite couples and bombshells like Huda, Jeremiah, Iris, Pepe, Olandria, Nic, Chelley, and Ace for a personal look back at their experiences in the Villa. Love Island USA host Ariana Madix will take on emcee duties, alongside Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen.
Can I get Peacock for free?
Unfortunately, Peacock no longer offers a free trial of its streaming service. However, there are a couple of ways to get a subscription for free or at least at a discount. We've rounded up the best Peacock streaming deals below to help you out.
The best Peacock streaming deals
Best long-term Peacock deal
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If Peacock isn't running any sort of special rates, the best Peacock deal for most people on any given day is the annual subscription deal. While a monthly subscription will cost you $10.99 per month with ads ($131.88 per year) or $16.99 per month without ads ($203.88 per year), a yearly subscription will only cost you $109.99 or $169.99. That's about 17% in savings and breaks down to about 12 months of streaming for the price of 10.
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers
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Xfinity customers should check the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock, as you might be able to score a subscription without paying a cent. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity. You can also head to Xfinity.com for more details.
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Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.
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NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.
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New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.
Best Peacock deal for students
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If you're a current college student, you can snag a Peacock Premium subscription for only $2.99 per month for the whole year. That's a total of $96 in savings. You just have to prove your student status through SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to secure the discount. Just note that the code can only be used once (aka, don't share it with your friends).
Best Peacock deal for first responders, medical professionals
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First responders and medical professionals can score a Peacock Premium subscription at a discounted rate of $3.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew your subscription at the discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.
Best for military personnel
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Likewise, active duty U.S. military service members, Reservists, National Guard members, veterans, or U.S. military retirees can also get Peacock Premium for a discounted rate of $3.99 per month. Just prove your military status using SheerID and if you continue to meet requirements, you can revalidate your status to renew the promotion yearly.
Best for teachers
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Teachers looking to watch the Love Island USA reunion can score a Peacock Premium subscription for only $3.99 per month for 12 months. Just verify your educator status and use the unique promo code you receive to sign up for the discount.
Best way to watch for free
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Peacock and Instacart partnered up last year to offer paid Instacart+ members free access to Peacock Premium. That's a $109.99 per year value for free. An Instacart+ account costs you $99.99 per year and includes free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders, among other perks. Plus, the best part is that you get a two-week free trial to test things out. Grabbing this freebie will allow you to tune into the Love Island USA Reunion and more. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to be charged.
Best for Mastercard holders
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Through Dec. 31, if you sign up for Peacock using an eligible World or World Elite Mastercard, you'll automatically receive a monthly statement credit of $3 for Peacock Premium or $5 for Peacock Premium Plus. That ultimately drops the price of the Premium tier back to $7.99 (its former price before the most recent price hike) and Premium Plus down to $11.99 per month. Learn more about eligibility requirements on the promotional page.
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