The Roses

2025 Directed: Jay Roach, Written: Tony McNamara

Score 3/5

A decent comedy. And dang it makes Mendocino, California look idyllic. Every location is beautiful. I should go see the ocean more.

I do feel like it kind of failed Olivia Coleman’s character (Ivy) though. Benedict Cumberbatch’s character (Theo) loses his career at the same time Ivy’s skyrockets. Theo is then forced to take over the family’s domestic life, raising the children, etc. Theo selfishly resents Ivy for being successful, while Ivy selfishly resents Theo for raising their children more in his image than hers.

I knew the couple was going to end up trying to kill each other, so when it was setting up Theo for failure I figured it was going to be that type of resentful stay at home dad story, but I didn’t expect it to later take Theo’s side in the whole matter. His character is presented as more mature and emotionally stable, more reasonable (until the whole attempted murdering stage of their relationship).

So overall, eh, but it’s kinda funny sometimes, and it looks great. Olivia Coleman has some great outfits.

The Present

2025 Directed: Christian Ditter, Written: Jay Martel

Score 2.5/5

Mmmmmmmmeh. The performances aren’t great, the story doesn’t really have an arc, the resolution just sort of happens.

It’s a time-loop movie where a trio of kids attempt to stop their parents from announcing their separation at dinner. But characters either know its a loop or don’t at the discretion of the script, there doesn’t really seem to be an internal logic to it. The parents never feel that sense of deja vu so their characters never really grow, they just go through the same motions every loop. The last loop two of the kids do some nonsense song that has no effect and the third kid brings everyone in for a group hug and that fixes it all.

I imagine a month after the credits roll they’re right back to separating at dinner again.