The Roses: A Deliciously Messy Marriage Meltdown You Can't Look Away From

Alright, folks, gather 'round. I just finished watching The Roses for the third time, and I'm still picking metaphorical cake out of my hair. If you haven't caught this gem yet, it's now available on digital platforms, and as of November 20, it's streaming on Hulu and Disney+. So, yes, in 2026, you have no excuse. This movie is a wild ride, and I'm here to tell you why you need to buckle up.

Let's talk plot. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Theo Rose, a formerly hotshot architect who takes a professional nosedive and becomes a stay-at-home dad. Meanwhile, his wife Ivy (Olivia Colman) sees her small restaurant explode into a culinary empire. It's a gender-flipped twist on the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, based on Warren Adler's novel. But this isn't just a remake; it's a modern reimagining that asks: what happens when the power dynamic in a marriage flips? And what happens when you add a lot of fancy food and a complete breakdown of civility? Spoiler: chaos, and it's hilarious.

I had the pleasure of attending a press event at The Gourmandise School in Santa Monica (okay, I watched the coverage, but let me live). Director Jay Roach was there, and he didn't just talk about the movie—he recreated the infamous food fight scene by digging into a replica of the film's cake. He also praised Olivia Colman, calling her a "foodie." I mean, have you seen her? She's a national treasure. Roach credited much of the film's success to Tony McNamara's script, saying he was "in awe of his ability to write that kind of conflict, where people are saying and doing horrible things to each other with such a poetic, witty, amazing dialogue." And he's not wrong. The banter between Cumberbatch and Colman is so sharp it could cut a steak.

But the real star of the show? The food. Roach explained, "I've written food fights into a few scripts. Because I think humans are polite and civil with each other most of the time, and we try to get along. Food is such a warm, cozy environment, but I love to see what happens when we get so off track, and the thing representing warmth now becomes a weapon." And that's exactly what happens. The food in The Roses starts as a symbol of love and comfort—Ivy's cooking brings people together—but by the end, it's a projectile. There's a catharsis in watching these two beautiful, talented people throw cake at each other, even as their marriage crumbles. As Roach put it, "It now becomes an enjoyable thing to throw at each other and mash into each other. It's such a breakdown of all the civility and relationship glue; everything's coming undone." And the metaphor is perfect: "The very thing that should be uniting us is the thing that pushes us apart."

Now, let's talk about the ending. The original War of the Roses is infamous for its tragic, pride-fueled conclusion. Roach's version, however, paints with a softer brush. There's room for hope. Theo is "a little bit overly self-assured and overconfident," so you know he's going to fall, but the movie isn't interested in punishing him. It's about "questioning how he and Ivy are going to cope with their new power dynamic." Roach said he wanted it to be more like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?—a story about two people who are trying to figure it out but have completely gone off track. The house, built by Theo's own hands, becomes a symbol of both his regained mojo and the potential downfall of their marriage. It could be their redemption or their downfall. And that ambiguity is what makes the film so compelling.

Roach also admitted that he always hoped the marriage could really collapse, but it became "too spectacle-oriented." In the end, he wanted to focus on these two characters and their journey. And what a journey it is. The film never loses sight of the possibility for reconciliation, even as the food flies and the insults get more creative.

Here's a quick cheat sheet for you:

So why should you watch The Roses? Let me count the ways:

• 🎭 The performances: Cumberbatch and Colman are a match made in heaven (or hell, depending on the scene).

• 🍲 The food: You'll be hungry and horrified at the same time.

• 💥 The food fights: Cathartic, messy, and weirdly relatable.

• 💬 The dialogue: Tony McNamara's script is a masterclass in witty, biting banter.

• 💔 The emotional core: It's not just a comedy; it's a thoughtful look at marriage, ambition, and sacrifice.

The film asks a killer question: "Who's going to make the sacrifice in this marriage?" And watching Theo get thrown by that question is worth the price of admission alone. It's a modern story for modern couples, and it doesn't pretend to have all the answers.

I'll be honest: after watching, I tried to make bouillabaisse. It did not go well. My kitchen looked like a crime scene, and my cat is still giving me the side-eye. But that's the power of this movie—it makes you want to cook, to fight, to love, and maybe to throw a little cake. So do yourself a favor: stream The Roses on Hulu or Disney+, grab a slice of something delicious, and prepare for a wild, wonderful, messy ride. Just maybe don't sit too close to your partner. You know, just in case.