Tag: British-style humor

THE ROSES – Review

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman in THE ROSES. Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

If you are going to remake a movie, the dark comedy THE ROSES is the way to do it. The dark comedy THE ROSES proves that there is a right way to do a remake, telling the same story but in a refreshingly different way. With biting British-style humor, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are the perfect couple, battling or not, in this love story gone wrong.

Based on the novel, “The War of the Roses,” the original 1989 comedy/thriller of the same name starred Michael Douglas and Kathlees Turner as a successful American couple whose marriage turns sour, and then some. In that version, the romance was pretty conventional but sparks flew and the dark comedy came to the fore once the battle was on. In this one, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman play a quirky British couple relocated to the US early on, a pair of snarky, unique individuals with a biting sense of humor. We get more of a sense of their own weird, very British humor, and creative natures, with more humor and quirky romance before they head for divorce and a showdown over the house like the original.

Centered on a couple of creatives who share that same sense of stinging humor means comedy is at the forefront from the start, not just when the battle begins. Humor is a very personal thing, individual tastes vary, and styles of humor differ culture to culture. With this couple being British, it also means that one has to have an appreciation for British humor, if not an outright love of it. The humor style is very British, although it is fully accessible American audiences, and not loaded with unfamiliar British references. The fact that these two unique individuals are so creative and off-kilter means not everyone gets them, so meeting and falling for someone who truly does get them gives this marriage something extra, with a lot more romantic spark between them.

Although the film is set in the US, the style of humor is tongue-in-cheek, snarky British. The audience gets a quick preview of the couple’s style of humor (and the film’s) in an opening scene where they are getting couple’s counseling with an American therapist. The therapist has given them an assignment to write down ten things they like about the other but these snarky souls can’t help themselves, and the “ten things I like about you” go from back-handed to pure snark. After Ivy reads her list, Theo bursts out laughing, and they laughingly trade more insults, while the therapist looks on in horror. “It’s called repartee,” Theo says, rolling his eyes. The Brits think this verbal sparring is hilarious and normal, but the American therapist recoils and ends the session. If your reaction to that scene is more like the therapist’s, you might not find this film as hilarious as I did.

The humor is snarky but less dark that the original film, although these creative people know how to bring the crazy to the fight too. Because these two are so unfiltered and satiric, they (and we) know they are the kind of couple who are made for each other, and no one else will really do. That doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to fight. Strong-willed, neither wants to lose an argument, and with two such sharp-tongued people, there are bound to be sparks and spats, even if underneath they love each and know no one else will ever get them like the other does.

THE ROSES has one the best meet-cutes ever, when architect Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes frustrated during a company meeting in a restaurant and storms away from the group – and into the kitchen. There he comes face to face with chef Ivy (Olivia Colman). The two trade quips, then their dreams, lock eyes, and fall in love. Cumberbatch and Colman do this beautifully, fully believable, romantic and charmingly funny. It’s like watching classic screwball comedy, the kind that starred Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, but with the personalities reversed.

Like in the original comedy, Theo and Ivy are financially successful couple but we get to see a lot more up-and-down of how they got there, which makes for a more interesting story. From the London meet-cute, we flash forward to the married couple living in California, in a modest house near a beach. Now with two kids, Ivy stays home to care the the kids, making fabulous meals for the family, while Theo pursues his architectural career. Worried that Ivy is feeling a bit unfulfilled, as her culinary efforts for the kids are getting more and more elaborate, Theo encourages her to open a little seafood restaurant in an old building nearby. She does, naming it, in her own style, “We’ve Got Crabs.” The crab shack draws only a handful of customers on the three days a week it is open (“Is it the name?” Theo wonders aloud, tongue-in-cheek), but Ivy is fine with that.

Two things happen to upset the dynamic in the marriage: a traumatic fail for Theo as he unveils a grand new building and Ivy’s crab shack getting a glowing review from a big city food critic. Suddenly the economic situation flips, as Theo, suddenly unemployed, decides to stay home with the kids while regrouping while Ivy concentrates on her suddenly successful restaurant. It’s supposed to be temporary, while Theo rebuilds his reputation and Ivy seizes an opportunity.

That shift provides the spark that leads to other changes, then conflict and resentments. The more money they have, thanks to Ivy’s widening success, the more tensions the couple have, as they are pulled in different directions. With two creative, competitive, sharp-tongued characters, sooner or later things will blow up.

Colman and Cumberbatch are absolutely marvelous in this film, with spot-on perfect verbal sparring and charmingly quirky romance. The characters are so alike, which is part of their problem, so compromise is hard. Director Jay Roach paces this growing battle perfectly, with more back-and-forth, on-and-off romance than the original, making the battle of the Roses feels fresh rather than like a retread. The humor is distinctly British and sharp, delivered by two of the most skilled professionals alive, making it both hilarious and a joy to watch. Jay Roach backs all that comic gold up with a perfect supporting cast, including Kate McKinnon and Andy Samburg, who are wonderful as the couple’s American best friends.

Writer Tony McNamara takes full advantage of the Brits in America situation, with plenty of fish-out-of-water, culture-clash humor and a bit of social commentary, especially in a hilarious scene at a shooting range.

Visually, the film is a delight as well. The film is beautifully shot by Florian Hoffmeister, highlighting the lovely California scenery, and appropriately showcasing the architecture. THE ROSES has some of the most tempting food photography I’ve seen, with one gorgeous plate or sculpted dessert after another. Another wow are the costumes Olivia Colman sports throughout, emphasizing her creative and unconventional spirit, so that one looks forward to seeing what creative outfit her Ivy will don in the next scene.

With the caveat that British humor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, for those who enjoy that style of comedy,

THE ROSES is that rarest thing, a romantic comedy that is just an excellent film, and which hearkens back to the classic Hollywood era when romantic comedies were the best comedies. THE ROSES is the whole package, a dark romantic comedy that has plenty of comedy and romance before the mayhem begins, with a brilliantly matched lead couple, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, a perfectly-paced script with nearly non-stop laughs but lots of heart, wonderful supporting cast, gorgeous visuals, delightful costumes, and a perfect finish. It’s a film worth seeing more than once to laugh again, and proves that sometimes it is worth remaking a film. It also leads one to hope for more pairings between Cumberbatch and Colman.

THE ROSES opens in theaters on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

RATING: 4 out of 4 stars

FIGHT OR FLIGHT – Review

Josh Hartnett in FIGHT OR FLIGHT. Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Everything is exaggerated and over-the-top in the action-comedy FIGHT OR FLIGHT but the sky-high, stunt-filled film starring Josh Hartnett, which is really both fight and flight, certainly delivers on popcorn entertainment, both in the high body count action and the silly, strangely British-flavored comedy. Josh Hartnett is very entertaining as a disgraced, drunken Secret Service agent trying for a second chance, with an assignment to bring in a mercenary assassin who is on a plane where nearly everyone is trying to kill one or the other of them.

Action-comedy FIGHT OR FLIGHT opens with a shot of a jet flying high against a blue sky, as “The Blue Danube” plays, then cuts to a shot of a passenger aboard that flight, with eye mask and neck pillow, being rudely jolted awake as a brawl spills across the aisle, followed by a pan to the other aisle of the wide-body plane, where another army of brawlers are battling. All roiling with only the Blue Danube for sound, It gives to a taste of what this entertaining, silly, stunt-filled action-comedy has in store.

The opening is a clever set- up for this highly entertaining, high body count stunt fest with a John Wick vibe and goofy humor, which for some unknown reason felt British to this reviewer. No thinking required for this popcorn escapist delight and actually it might actually give you a headache to try to figure some details out. Just buckle-up that seat belt and go along for the comedy and action ride.

We next cut to 12-hours earlier, on the ground, as a young guy in a suit bounces happily down a city street, listening to “Sunshine and Lollipops” – until a phone call sends him into sends him into an angry string of cursing as he hurries to work. Cursing the doorman and being rude to everyone on his way, this jerk storms into work, hoping to avoid his boss.

Work for our cursing, arrogant guy in the suit, Aaron Hunter (Julian Kostov, from “White Lotus”), is at an private security agency run by ex-CIA folks doing similar work for private clients. Something has gone horribly wrong in Bangkok, and our suit is hoping to dodge his boss on the way in. He doesn’t.

Arrogant, foul-mouthed Hunter arrives to get the update from his assistant, Agent Robinson (Jyuddah Jaymes), but snarls at another agent, Simmons (Willem Van Der Vegt), when he chimes in with new information. When the boss, Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff), shows up, Hunter tries to talk his way out of trouble with a string of excuses, until Agent Simmons calmly and efficiently provides the information Hunter doesn’t have, quietly showing him up in front of their boss Brunt.

The dry-humor workplace comedy bit is one of several occasional touches of silliness to come, comic relief amid the stunt action mayhem. That action and comedy balance is part of what makes this popcorn flick such fun.

What has gone wrong in Bangkok is an explosion that wiped out their whole team at that location, The bigger problem this creates is with their assignment to capture an elusive assassin known as the Ghost. Although no one has ever photographed the assassin, they know the Ghost is in Bangkok, and is not headed for the airport. The nearest other team is an hour and a half flight away. Desperate measures are needed. The desperate measure is to call disgraced U.S. Secret Service agent Lucas Reyes (Josh Hartnett).

Hartnett’s Lucas Reyes is trapped in Bangkok and currently drinking himself to death, unable to leave after being placed on the No-Fly list and having his passport revoked. But Lucas is not too happy to hear from his old buddy Brunt, with whom he also has a romantic history and now distrusts. Still, he eventually, reluctantly agrees to the assignment, in exchange for a new passport, a ton of cash, and lifting the no-fly ban.

Brunt knows which flight the Ghost will be on but has no photo to share. Lucas’ assignment is to locate the Ghost on the flight, take the target into custody and hand the assassin over to Brunt when the plane arrives in San Francisco.

What Lucas doesn’t discover until they are in the air, is that nearly everyone on the plane is there to kill him or kill the Ghost. He has to survive – and keep the Ghost from being killed too, to collect his fat paycheck.

The plane is a double-decker wide body, with a luxury class, first class and coach seating. Luckily, Lucas gets some help from flight attendants Isha (Charithra Chandran, of “Bridgerton”) and Royce (Danny Ashok).

Josh Hartnett is terrific as the hard-drinking yet strangely very capable Lucas, who would like to get his life back on track but still craves the drink. Lucas Reyes is that familiar hero in need of a second chance. The hard-drinking Lucas is a sad soul at a crossroads, and someone with a bit of a heart, despite being a mercenary. And he is amazingly good at his job, despite the copious amount of alcohol he consumes.

Supporting cast is good as well. Brit Charithra Chandran is excellent in her role as Isha, and Katee Sackhoff is spot-on as hard-as-nails boss Brunt. Julian Kostov is funny as the foul-mouthed Hunter, and Marko Zaror is over-the-top as a weirdo passenger who goes by the name Cayenne. Hugie O’Donnell plays the overly-dramatic lead flight attendant, Garrett, while Sanjeev Kohli and Declan Baxter play the unflappable pilot and more “flappable” co-pilot, respectively.

An endless stream of adversaries come for Lucas but the film alternates between comedy and action, with a few breaks for brief character development scenes. The humor in FIGHT OR FLIGHT has a vaguely British feel but actually the film is American, albeit with an international cast the includes some Brits. At other times, the comedy is pure AIRPLANE. The action/comedy’s John Wick feel has more of a basis, as it was produced by the same team as the John Wick ones.

Emmy-winning director James Madigan does well helming his first feature film. keeping things moving briskly and balancing comedy and action well. The script by Brooks McLaren and D. J. Cotrona is pretty wild but has nice touches that lift this entertainment offering out of the familiar and predictable, while still satisfying its audience.

The entertaining action/comedy is also packed with colorful characters, great stunt fights along side silly humor, plus a bit of a heart and even a message against about slave labor being used to build smart phones.

Describing more would create spoilers, so we’ll stop here on that. The film is fast, fun, and keeps your interest throughout with both good characters and stunt work. Moving around the large plane keeps the visuals varied, as Hartnett’s Lucas battles one adversary after another. The John Wick vibe is strong but there is a bit of Indiana Jones too, although Hartnett’s drunken assassin is no intellectual heavy weight. he’s still likable. What happens with the Ghost we would say more about, to avoid spoilers, but it adds another layer of interest, as both of them are trying to survive the flight on a plane full of assassins.

Tons of action ensues, but many of the characters have a comic bent, while Lucas Reyes alternates between beating people to a pulp, heavy drinking and soul-searching. Josh Hartnett is surprisingly good and very likable in this oddball role, and you can’t help but root for him. Not in the fights, where he seems to defeat all with ease, no matter how much he drank, which is a nice comic bit. Hartnett reportedly did his own stunts, and looks pretty good doing them.

The stunt work is terrific, with that John Wick feel you might expect from these producers. The stunts are varied, and feature an array of characters, which keeps them interesting. Director James Madigan cleverly uses the action sequences to advance character development, and the action is nearly non-stop, with brief breaks for exposition and more character development, and of course, comedy.

Director Madison keeps everything cooking, and moving briskly in this film that runs under two hours, This is a high body count action film with an R rating but the action is stunt-work with a cartoon violence style rather than gore, although there is blood.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT is purely popcorn action comedy fun, despite a little bit about fighting slave labor used to produce smart phones. It is ridiculously far fetched but fast-paced and laced with humor, topped off by a winning performance from Josh Hartnett as a surprisingly likable drunken assassin. This is well-done, highly-entertaining popcorn fun. If you aren’t squeamish about the high body count that all its cartoon violence delivers, this fast-paced mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and high-octane stunt fighting is a good escapist distraction from a grim real world.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT opens Friday, May 9, in theaters.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars