“Cumberbatch vs. Colman. Place your bets,” reads the latest post from JioHotstar, announcing the digital release of Jay Roach’s darkly satirical black comedy The Roses. The film, which hits the streamer on November 20, promises a dazzlingly venomous face-off between two of Britain’s finest talents, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman.
Based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel and reimagined from the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, Roach’s version brings writer Tony McNamara’s sharp wit and tonal daring center stage. The story follows Theo and Ivy Rose, a once-perfect couple whose dream life slowly implodes in a whirlwind of ego, envy, and emotional warfare. What begins as a delicately strained marriage spirals into a full-blown domestic battlefield.
Cumberbatch plays Theo, a meticulous architect unraveling under the weight of resentment, while Colman’s Ivy transforms from a supportive partner into a culinary empire-builder. Their shifting fortunes drive the film’s delicious chaos: her restaurants rise as his career collapses. By the time they start sabotaging each other’s lives—through poison desserts, blackout pranks, and weaponized affection—it’s clear that Roach’s satire of love and ambition cuts to the bone.
The supporting cast brims with comedic flavor: Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, and Kate McKinnon each add their brand of absurdity to a story that refuses to let sentimentality soften its blows. As Theo and Ivy’s war of pride escalates toward its fiery, gas-leak finale, audiences are left both horrified and howling with laughter.
With its blend of sleek direction, biting humor, and two powerhouse performances, The Roses stands as a bold, cynical love story for the streaming era. Whether viewers take sides or simply watch the chaos unfold, one thing is certain: this November, no one’s marriage looks safe.