Jay Roach has two interchangeable and intertwining modes – there’s his political satire mode and his comedy mode. Sure, the political satire as it depicts our couple, Ivy and Theo Rose (Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch). As Britons in NorCal, there’s one scene in The Roses where the couple meet their friends in a shooting range. There’s also the soft politics of a man not being able to handle his wife’s success in her chosen career. After getting a commission, architect Theo pays for Ivy’s restaurant, which becomes successful while his building falls. He becomes a Mr. Mom, but his patience for her increasing egomania that comes as part of being a chef is wearing thin. Both of them are getting so sick of each other that they can’t even create a facade of civil behaviour in front of their friends (Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, and Jamie Demetriou).

There’s often that discussion amongst cinephiles revolving around the idea that bad movies need remakes. I was too harsh on the first adaptation of the Warren Adler play Wars of the Roses. But yes, that is one of the movies that need remakes, although I had doubts with this. First, Tony McNamara’s script is brilliant even in parts that delve on some characters’ crude tendencies. And of course, what makes The Roses equally great is its cast, with Colman and Cumberbatch as leads. A boring version of this remake would just get the 2020s version of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. But Colman and Cumberbatch are an unlikely couple who work, bringing both gravitas and physical comedy. The supporting cast here is also great, with a mixture of SNL alumni and British actors playing Yanks.

Apologies if I’m comparing movies again, but The Roses has a different starting point from the original. Pardon the Danny DeVito slander, but it’s also a good idea for this to have less lawyers. The showdown, then, between Ivy, Theo and their lawyers (Allison Janney and Andy Samberg) is cinematic greatness. This is especially true for Janney who knows what wavelength to bring in an overtly comedic film. Before I give light spoilers for the ending, this movie looks competent down to the NorCal B-roll. And now, without giving too much away, the film ending is similar to the Douglas / Turner original. Colman and Cumberbatch go all out and yes, it involves a chandelier falling on one of them. Late summer counter programming never looked this good, because here, British actors smash expensive things to bits.

The Roses is available to watch in select Canadian theatres.