In 1989, Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas were the perfect choice to star in an adaptation of the novel The War of The Roses, about a once-happy couple fighting over their dream home during a divorce. They had on-screen history and were known for their sprightly, darkly humorous banter. Revisioning this hit black comedy is a tall order, and while beloved British greats Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch seem ideal for a reboot, the results are mixed.
When mischievous chef Ivy meets idealistic architect Theo at work, the chemistry is immediate - in fact, they're bonking in the restaurant kitchen within seconds. They move to America, where she looks after the kids. After a comical but excruciating disaster at his work, the roles are reversed: Ivy launches a restaurant, and Theo is charged with keeping house. Meantime, Ivy is loving the life of a burgeoning celebrity chef.
Like the marriage at its centre, the novelty wears off
Theo’s nuanced discomfort with the new order is amusing: here's a dad who sees himself as a feminist yet feels deeply jealous when his wife is the breadwinner. While she's filled the kids with sugar, he decides to turn them into athletes. It's funny and relevant, and could power most of the film. So it feels like a bit of a shame when the story descends into a version of the madness penned by Warren Adler back in the materialistic ’80s. As they scrap increasingly violently over their dream home – which Theo designed – it feels less comedic and increasingly tragic, never finding the tonal balance of director Danny DeVito’s earlier version. Ultimately, it comes off as a bleak note of caution.
Directed by Jay Roach (Bombshell) with a screenplay by Tony McNamara (The Favourite), the movie does have laugh-out-loud moments, some coming from the couple's love-hate banter, others from their US friends, played by Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg. And yet, despite the comedic might on screen, many of the gags fail to land. The Roses gets off to an enjoyable start, but like the marriage at its centre, the novelty wears off.
In cinemas worldwide Fri Aug 29.