“The Roses” (2025) – Olivia Colman’s Spectacular Satire About Competitive Couples

Diretor: Jay Roach

Starring: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andy Samberg

‘A Spectacular Satire’

Not many actresses in Hollywood have earned the appreciation of Olivia Colman. Ever since her recognition in the 2000’s, Colman has become a commemorated icon. Whether it’s majestic political leaders, daughters that care for aging seniors or suspects of murders, Colman has played several strong characters. Arguably, Colman’s strength as an actress is her strong commitment. She is one of those rare one-of-a-kind actresses that has often poured both her heart and soul into each and every role. Colman has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing complex characters that aren’t often likeable. Shining bright light in darkness, Colman has become a celebrated icon in the entertainment business. A British icon, Colman has become an actress that has managed to accomplish great movies which audiences cherish. Through her abilities to portray larger than life characters which are compelling, Colman has built a legacy which is lasting. Throughout her strong career, Colman has starred in several strong movies which are worth watching.

I’m a huge fan of Colman and adore all the films she has made in her career. However, “The Roses” may be her most underrated work. Released in 2025, Jay Roach’s movie offered a powerful portrait of couples facing broken marriages. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s one of the greatest movies made about marriage. At the centre of it all is an astonishing performance by Olivia Colman, who embodies a woman trapped in a broken marriage that faces tension. Although “The Roses” is a captivating marriage drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from an over the top conclusion without resolution. That being said, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of marriage dramas.

“The Roses” tells the story of a couple that faces bad marriages. Olivia Colman plays Ivy Rose, a strong woman with dedication to her career. Ivy has often excelled in her work with which she shares a strong connection. However, Ivy’s life changes when she soon becomes involved in a broken marriage that causes disaster. Butting heads against her husband Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch), Ivy is forced to question whether she can ever overcome a bad patch. As all odds become stacked against her favour, Ivy questions if it’s possible to overcome marriages facing disaster. Facing a crisis, Ivy questions if it’s possible to overcome emotional marriages that vanish.

Jay Roach has always been fascinated with the theme of marriage. His iconic film “Meet the Fockers” offered a powerful portrait of failing marriages that experience disasters. With “The Roses”, however, Roach created his first remake. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to create a remake of a celebrated movie about marriages but he succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Roach captures a doomed marriage experiencing tragedy. Evoking Robert Benton’s “Kramer v. Kramer”, Roach effectively uses montages to capture marriages that face a disaster. For instance, montages elevate the marital argument scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ivy has a tense argument with Theo causing tension. Using stunning montages, Roach creates a portrait of marriages that is engaging. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” suggested, montages enhance movies about British queens. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using stunning visuals. Roach captures tension broken couples in marriages are facing.

Another admirable aspect of “The Roses” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical point of view, it’s one of the best marriage movies that you will ever see. Inspired with Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story”, Roach effectively uses set design of homes to capture marriages that endure a decline. For instance, set design enhances the war scene. During this engaging scene, Ivy has an intense confrontation with Theo causing tension. Through set design, Roach creates a portrait of marriages that endure a decline. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Theodore Shapiro’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing burden that broken couples bear. Using captivating production, Roach captures marriages that face tension.

Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Roses” is a remake which is engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses dramatic monologues to capture the tensions that couples in broken marriages experience. Emulating Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine”, Roach effectively employs monologues to capture marriages enduring decline. For instance, monologues elevate the speech scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ivy expresses her frustrations with a broken marriage by monologues. Through monologues, Roach created a portrait of a marriages audiences relate to. Through a spectacular screenplay, Roach captures doomed marriages that experience a grim price to pay.

One appreciates amazing performances.

Olivia Colman gives one of her best career performances as Ivy. Colman achieved appreciation for playing queens British period pieces. With “The Roses”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody personality of a woman in a broken marriage through causing adversity but she succeeds immensely. With riveting expressions, she captured ambition, grief and resentment of a woman in marriages tension. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the finest actresses today.

While the movie is mainly a showcase for Colman, the supporting cast is also great. Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant, bringing tension to a man in a bad marriage facing a rough patch. Andy Samberg is spectacular, capturing the personality of a lonely man in marriages facing adversity. Lastly, Kate McKinnon is magnificent. As a female friend, she is unforgettable.

Although “The Roses” is a fantastic drama, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a drawback towards the film, it lacks a bold conclusion. It’s an ambiguous ending without satisfying resolution. Whereas this ending enhanced David Fincher’s “Gone Girl”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. As Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” claimed, ambiguous endings elevate Iranian films. Therefore, “The Roses” can’t quite honour a celebrated movie about bad marriages.

Nevertheless, fans of Olivia Colman would definitely enjoy “The Roses” and so would audiences seeking touching entertainment. A captivating drama, it celebrates an iconic actress with charisma.

A powerful portrait of factors which cause broken marriages to deteriorate, it’s a bold reminder of an actress that hasn’t lost her ability to captivate by producing memorable films audiences appreciate.

4.5/5 stars