THE ROSES : Tuesday 9th September 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'THE ROSES' this week at my local multiplex, and this satirical black comedy film is Directed by Jay Roach whose previous Directorial credits take in the three 'Austin Powers' films in 1997, 1999 and 2002, as well as 'Mystery, Alaska' in 1999, 'Meet the Parents' in 2000, 'Meet the Fockers' in 2004, 'Dinner for Schmucks' in 2010, 'Trumbo' in 2015 and 'Bombshell' in 2019. This film is based on the 1981 novel 'The War of the Roses' by Warren Adler, and a remake of the 1989 film, also titled 'The War of the Roses' which starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. The film was released in the US, and the UK at the end of August and here in Australia last week, having garnered mixed or average reviews, and so far grossing US$33M off the back of a production budget of just under US$31M.

The film opens up in London, where architect Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch) is dining with colleagues in an upscale restaurant, and wanting to distance himself from the conversation of differing opinions to his own, he ventures into the kitchen and comes face to face with Ivy (Olivia Colman). The pair are instantly drawn to each other, and she tells him that she has a dream of relocating herself to America to start up her own business, to which he responds that he should go with her. Within five minutes of their meeting, they 'bond' in the coolroom.

Fast forward ten years, and Theo and Ivy have relocated to Mendocino, California, and are married and have twin children, Hattie (Delaney Quinn) and Roy (Ollie Robinson). They have differing parenting styles as Ivy spoils the kids with her homemade cakes, ice cream and fun activities, and Theo prioritises their health. 

With Ivy having sacrificed her business plans to raise their children, Theo buys her a piece of run down and long since vacated real estate, albeit overlooking the ocean, with his own money where she can finally open the restaurant she always dreamed of, which she calls 'We've Got Crabs'.

One night, during a severe storm, Theo's newly designed and constructed naval history museum is completely destroyed, just as Ivy's new restaurant is overrun with customers seeking shelter. Due to a glowing review from a renowned food critic, Ivy's business goes from strength to strength, making her the new breadwinner of the family, while Theo loses his job as a result of the naval history museum collapse, and agrees to be a stay-at-home parent. Taking full advantage of it, and jumping in with both feet he puts the kids on a strict regime of diet and regular physical exercise, and even has them sign a commitment to abide by the new regime, which it seems they are happy to abide by, much to Ivy's chagrin. As a result, Ivy begins to feel disconnected from her children's lives, while Theo becomes jealous of Ivy's success, and all the attention she is reaping.

Sensing a rift in their relationship, the pair make several attempts to reconcile, including a romantic weekend trip to New York City and marriage counselling, but all fail miserably. They begin to feel resentment for each other and blame the other for their problems. As a last ditch attempt to save their marriage, Ivy uses the profits from franchising out her restaurant business to give Theo an opportunity to build their dream home, located on a cliff top and overlooking the ocean.

Three years later, their dream house is complete, and the now thirteen year-old Hattie (Hala Finley) and Roy (Wells Rappaport) are prodigies accepted into a prestigious school in Miami on sports scholarships. Without the kids to distract them, Ivy and Theo's frustrations turn into a feud. Ivy mocks and humiliates Theo in front of their friends Barry and Amy (Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon respectively) and Sally and Rory (Zoe Chao and Jamie Demetriou respectively) during a housewarming party, discrediting his hard work. The next morning Ivy seeks to make amends by cooking him breakfast of blueberry pancakes, but he is not interested and instead goes out for a run. Theo, after saving a beached whale and experiencing an epiphany, realises that you only have one life to live, and that he is not in love with Ivy anymore and therefore wants a divorce. He asks only for the house which he designed and built, but Ivy says that she paid for it and wants to leave him with nothing.

They have a meeting with their divorce lawyers with Theo's friend Barry representing him and a renowned and super tough lawyer Eleanor (Allison Janney) representing Ivy. Barry is inexperienced in divorce law but has experience in property law, which he says is almost the same thing. The pair reach an impasse with neither prepared to budge on the house issue. 

As a result they decide to make each other's lives as uncomfortable as possible using cruel tactics, which results in Theo being blacklisted from architecture throughout the State as a result of Ivy posting an AI generated Deep Fake video of Theo online, and Ivy's restaurants being closed down for health contraventions as a result of Theo grating the hard skin from his toes into her parmesan cheese. Ivy has an allergic reaction after Theo tricks her into eating a mini Black Forest gateau laced with fresh raspberries, and will only cure her with an EpiPen if Ivy signs the papers. She signs as Zendaya rendering the papers useless, but he saves her anyway. 

Ivy then tries to shoot him with their home defence gun in response, with Theo ducking for cover behind the kitchen benches. They chase each other around the house as Ivy shoots randomly, with Theo smashing Ivy's beloved oven that once belonged to Julia Child in the process. Overwhelmed, and talking through a locked door, Theo admits he still loves Ivy despite everything that has happened between them. Ivy says she feels the same way, puts down the gun, Theo opens the door and the two embrace. 

As the pair collapse on the bed and become intimate, a gas leak is seen spreading through the house due to the damage that Theo inflicted on Ivy's oven. Unaware of the situation, Theo commands their smart home system to turn on the fire, at which the screen cuts to white. 

For me 'The Roses' would be up there as one of the best comedies of the year so far, and that's saying something! Watching Olivia Colman hand out her acerbic barbs and dropping the c-word on several occasions is a delight, and seeing Benedict Cumberbatch like he's just swallowed the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary delivering his quick witted well spoken retorts is a lesson in the command of the English language, and all credit to the scriptwriter Tony McNamara. Director Jay Roach has delivered a film that while perhaps not up there with its more bleak 1989 predecessor, he has crafted a nonetheless entertaining and modern 21st century take on a marriage in crisis, and the fallout thereof. The film has several moments of genuine humour, a number of farcical set pieces peppered throughout by a few occasions of emotional heft that help lift this remake above the also rans.

'The Roses' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th September 2025

The 50th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), this year runs from Thursday 4th through until Sunday 14th September, in the Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario. It is a chance for audiences and industry professionals to celebrate with the best of Canadian and global cinema, special events and talks with stars, plus TIFF's Industry Conference. TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organisation dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema and creating transformational experiences for film lovers and creators of all ages and backgrounds. Its mission to transform the way people see the world through film . . . so reads the official website.

This years Opening Film presentation is 'John Candy : I Like Me' Directed and Co-Produced by Colin Hanks, and this documentary film is a portrait of John Candy, the Canadian Actor who began his career on the sketch comedy series 'Second City Television' before becoming one of the most popular and beloved stars of comedy films until his death of a heart attack in 1994. The Closing Film is 'Peak Everything' Written and Directed by Anne Emond and this romantic comedy is about a kennel owner from Montreal who suffers from depression and climate anxiety, and after buying a light therapy box to counter his symptoms, he falls in love with the customer service representative who helps him set up the device over the phone, and sets off to Sudbury to find her. 

There are twenty-two feature films in this years Gala Presentations section, and these are detailed in brief below :-

* 'Adulthood' - from the USA and this comedy drama film is Co-Produced, Directed and stars Alex Winter, together with Kaya Scodelario, Billie Lourd and Josh Gad.

* 'The Choral' - from the UK and this historical comedy drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Nicholas Hytner and stars Ralph Fiennes, Alun Armstrong and Simon Russell Beale.

* 'Driver's Ed' - from the USA and this comedy film is Directed by Bobby Farrelly and stars Sam Nivola, Molly Shannon and Kumail Nanjiani.

* 'Eleanor the Great' - from the USA and this drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Scarlett Johansson in her Directorial debut, and stars June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht and Chiwetel Ejiofor. 

* 'Eternity' - from the USA and this fantasy romantic comedy is Directed by David Freyne, and stars Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

* 'Fuze' - from the UK and this crime thriller heist film is Directed by David Mackenzie, and stars Arron Taylor-Johnson,  Theo James, Sam Worthington and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

* 'Glenrothan' - from the UK and this drama film is Co-Produced, Directed and stars Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, and is Cox's feature Directing debut.

* 'Good Fortune' - from the USA and this comedy film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Aziz Ansari alongside Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Oh, and is Ansari's feature Directorial debut.

* 'Hamnet' - from the UK and the USA and this historical drama film is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Chloe Zhao, and stars Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson and Jacobi Jupe. 

* 'Homebound' - from India and Written for the screen and Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor.
* 'John Candy : I Like Me' - from the USA and this documentary film is Co-Produced and Directed by Colin Hanks, and stars John Candy.

* 'Lilith Fair : Building a Mystery' - from Canada and this documentary film is Directed by Ally Pankiw, and focuses on female solo musicians and female-led bands, including Sarah McLachlan (the founder of this music festival), Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Bonnie Raitt, Jewel, Olivia Rodrigo, Indigo Girls and Emmylou Harris are among those interviewed.

* 'No Other Choice' - from South Korea this black comedy thriller film is Co-Written for the screen, Produced and Directed by Park Chan-wook, and stars Lee Byung-hun.

* 'Nuremberg' - from the USA and this historical drama film is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by James Vanderbilt and stars Remi Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks, Leo Woodall, and John Slattery. 

* 'Palestine 36' - from Palestine, the UK, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and this historical drama film is Written and Directed by Annemarie Jacir, and stars Robert Aramayo, Billy Howle, Liam Cunningham and Jeremy Irons.

* 'Peak Everything' - from Canada and this RomCom is Written and Directed by Anne Emond and stars Patrick Hivon, Piper Perabo and Connor Jessup.

* 'A Private Life' - from France and this black comedy mystery film is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and stars Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric and Vincent Lacoste.

* 'Roofman' - from the USA and this crime comedy drama film is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Derek Cianfrance and stars Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, LaKeith Stanfield, Lily Collins and Tony Revolori. 

* 'She's Got No Name' - from China and Hong Kong and this crime drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Peter Chan and stars Zhang Ziyi.

* 'Sholay' - from India and this 1975 originally released epic action adventure film is Directed by Ramesh Sippy and stars Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan. 

* 'Swiped' - from the USA and this biographical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg and stars Lily Collins, Dan Stevens, Myha'la, Jackson White and Ben Schnetzer.

* 'Two Pianos' - from France and this romantic drama film is Written and Directed by Arnaud Desplechin and stars Francois Civil, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Charlotte Rampling and Hippolyte Girardot.

The Tribute Awards will be presented to amongst others Guillermo Del Toro as the recipient of the Director's Award, to Jodie Foster as the recipient of the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, and the South Korean Actor Lee Byung-hun as recipient of a Special Tribute Award. 

For the full details of the aforementioned films featuring in the Gala Presentations section, plus the other films appearing in the Special Presentations programme, the Centrepiece section, TIFF Docs, Discovery, Platform, Midnight Madness and the Short Cuts strands, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://tiff.net/about-the-festival

Turning the attention back on this week six hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with an action comedy offering in which a mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect her when they're surrounded by people trying to kill both of them. Next up we have a black comedy film about an outwardly perfect couple's simmering jealousy boils over when the husband's career implodes, revealing cracks in the facade of their ideal family life. Then we turn to a black comedy drama where something bad happened to Agnes, but life must go on . . . for everyone around her, at least. This is followed by a supernatural horror offering centring on a husband and wife team of paranormal investigators who must try to vanquish a demon from a family's home. Up next is a musical comedy based on an Off-Broadway stage production which is based on a 1988 film which sees a high school senior, trying to survive and fit in with her new peers, the beautiful but cruel Heathers, but she also must contend with an unstable boy who pushes her to the limit. And closing out the week we have an animated fantasy drama film that follows Jesus' life from ministry beginnings through crucifixion, resurrection, as seen through Apostle John's eyes.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'FIGHT OR FLIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - is an action comedy film Directed by James Madigan in his feature film Directorial debut, although he has been the Second Unit Director on the likes of 'G.I. Joe : Retaliation', 'RED 2', 'Insurgent', 'Allegiant', 'The Meg', 'Bill and Ted Face the Music', 'Snake Eyes' and 'Transformers : Rise of the Beasts' more recently. This film premiered in the UK at the end of February this year, was released in the US in early May, has received positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$4M at the Box Office. 

Exiled American agent Lucas Reyes (Josh Hartnett) is given one last chance to redeem himself. The assignment (should he choose to accept it) is to track down and identify a mysterious, international high-value asset known only as 'The Ghost' (Charithra Chandran) on a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. Complicating matters, the plane is filled with assassins from around the world who are assigned to kill them both. The pair must work together in a fight for their lives. At 37,000 feet, the stakes have never been higher. 

'THE ROSES' (Rated MA15+) - this satirical black comedy film is Directed by Jay Roach whose previous Directorial credits take in the three 'Austin Powers' films in 1997, 1999 and 2002, as well as 'Mystery, Alaska' in 1999, 'Meet the Parents' in 2000, 'Meet the Fockers' in 2004, 'Dinner for Schmucks' in 2010, 'Trumbo' in 2015 and 'Bombshell' in 2019. This film is based on the 1981 novel 'The War of the Roses' by Warren Adler, and a remake of the 1989 film, also titled 'The War of the Roses' which starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Here, life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch) - successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the facade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing, as Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites. Also starring Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon and Allison Janney, the film was released last week Stateside. 

'SORRY, BABY' (Rated M) - is an American black comedy drama film that is Written, Directed and starring Eva Victor in her film making debut. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year, went on release in the US at the end of June, has so far grossed US$3M and has generated universal critical acclaim. Here then, something terrible happened to Agnes (Eva Victor) while studying at college in a graduate programme. But life goes on for everyone else. When a friend visits on the brink of an important milestone, Agnes realises how stuck she's been, in this story of finding your way after your world comes crashing down. Also starring Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, Kelly McCormack, John Carroll Lynch and Louis Cancelmi. 

'THE CONJURING : LAST RITES' (Rated MA15+) - this American supernatural horror film is Directed by Michael Chaves who made his feature film Directing debut with 2019's 'The Curse of La Llorona' and which he would follow up with 'The Conjuring : The Devil Made Me Do It' in 2021 and 'The Nun II' in 2023. This is the ninth film in the 'Conjuring Universe' which launched in 2013, and those first eight films in the franchise have grossed a worldwide Box Office haul of US$2.28B from combined production budgets of US$208M. Here, once again the film is based on the true-life investigations of Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) the paranormal investigators and authors, who in 1986 attempt to vanquish a real life haunting by a demon in the home of the Smurl family occupied by father Jack (Elliot Cowan) and mother Janet (Rebecca Calder) and their four children. Also starring Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy. The film is released in the US this week too.

'HEATHERS : THE MUSICAL' (Rated MA15+) - this comedy musical film is based on the Off-Broadway production of 2014 which is based on the movie of the same name from 1988. This film of the stage play is Directed by Andy Fickman, whose previous big screen credits take in the likes of 'She's the Man' in 2006, 'The Game Plan' in 2007, 'Race to Witch Mountain' in 2009, 'You Again' in 2010, 'Parental Guidance' in 2012, 'Paul Blart : Mall Cop 2' in 2015, 'Playing with Fire' in 2019, 'One True Loves' in 2023, and 'Don't Turn Out the Lights' also in 2023. Here, in welcoming the viewer to Westerberg High, where Veronica Sawyer (Alisa Davidson) is just another one of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she's unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers - weak-willed cheerleader Heather McNamara (Teleri Hughes), bulimic and petty but repressed Heather Duke (Vivian Panka) and 'mythic bitch' Heather Chandler (Madison Firth) - her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. Until Jason 'JD' Dean (Simon Gordon) shows up - the mysterious teen rebel who teaches her that everyone fears being a nobody, but its murder being a somebody! The film was released on the internet in late 2022, and in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in mid-2023, and only now does it get a showing in Australia.

'LIGHT OF THE WORLD' (Rated PG) - this hand drawn animated fantasy drama film is Directed by Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer, and is Bancroft's second feature film outing following 'Saleem' in 2023, and Schafer's Directorial debut. It is AD30 and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus (voiced by Ian Hanlin) isn't exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John (Benjamin Jacobson), James (Dylan Leonard), Andrew (Vincent Tong), Peter (Sam Darkoh), and their new friends begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure, told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus' ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, the film illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today. The film is released in the US and here in Australia this week, and in all other territories either this week or by the end of this month.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-