Conclusion<\/p>\n
The Roses stems from Warren Adler\u2019s 1981 book (and subsequent 1989 movie) The War of the Roses. While The Roses takes plenty of liberties with its source material, all three iterations share two critical elements: First, they center on a relationship that\u2019s no flower, all thorn. Second, they\u2019re classified as a black comedy: In other words, a tragedy you can laugh at.<\/p>\n
And The Roses\u2014for all its many, many, many problems\u2014is indeed funny. The writing is sharp and venomous, and stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch bring to the table every bit of caustic British wit they can muster.<\/p>\n
But as the movie wears on, the film grows less comedic, more tragic.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not that the jokes slow down or stop. If anything, they speed up. But they\u2019re predicated on the difficult and unnecessary death of a marriage. And there\u2019s nothing funny about that.<\/p>\n
And yes, I did say the unnecessary death of a marriage. Theo and Ivy\u2019s counselor may think that the couple had no hope of reconciliation. But when I watched the film, I saw plenty of unforced relational errors. Tiny acts of selfishness. Half-hearted apologies. Moments of jealousy, anger and resentment that could\u2019ve been disarmed with just a touch more consideration.<\/p>\n
Because the biggest tragedy of all? Deep down\u2014underneath all the poison and vitriol, all the hurt and shame and rage\u2014Theo and Ivy still care about each other.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t have to be this way.<\/p>\n
As mentioned, The Roses has plenty of content problems, and we probably don\u2019t need to reiterate them here. But, if you squint really hard, The Roses can serve as a cautionary tale. It\u2019s a story of coulda shoulda woulda. I could\u2019ve been more considerate. I should\u2019ve apologized. It\u2019s too late now, but I would\u2019ve liked a second chance.<\/p>\n
The Roses is a case study on how a marriage can be destroyed not with one big blow, but a thousand cuts. Cut by cut, choice by choice, the Roses\u2019 marriage falls apart until nary a snippet remains.<\/p>\n
And that begs the question: Does anybody really need to watch a marriage implode to drive that point home? Moreover, does anybody need to laugh about it?<\/p>\n