BENEDICT COMEDY BUZZ — With his daring remake of a beloved novel finally dropping, fans say Cumberbatch has never been funnier
The Rotten Tomatoes score is solid, the laughs are bigger than expected, and whispers of this being his boldest role yet are sparking talk of a new comedic era for the Oscar nominee…

Benedict Cumberbatch looking stunned in The Roses

Benedict Cumberbatch has established himself as one of Britain’s most versatile and compelling actors, with a career spanning the stage, television, and film. He first captured international attention as the razor-sharp detective Sherlock Holmes in the acclaimed BBC series Sherlock (2010–2017), a performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award and solidified his reputation as a singular talent.

On the big screen, Cumberbatch has garnered critical acclaim for his portrayals of complex figures, including codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (2014) and a brooding rancher in The Power of the Dog (2021), both earning him Oscar nominations. Alongside these accolades, Cumberbatch has delivered memorable turns in celebrated period dramas such as Atonement, 12 Years a Slave, and 1917.

Equally adept in large-scale blockbusters, Cumberbatch has portrayed some of contemporary cinema’s most iconic roles, from voicing Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy, playing Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, and Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, Cumberbatch has taken a turn toward comedy with his new movie releasing in theaters in just a few days.

The Roses Debuts With Solid Rotten Tomatoes Score

The Roses Trailer



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The Roses has debuted with a solid Rotten Tomatoes score. The upcoming film is from veteran comedy director Jay Roach, with a script written by two-time Oscar nominee Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Poor Things), based on the popular 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler, and in turn, is a remake of the 1989 film of the same title.

Its star-studded cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Emmy winners Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon (both for Saturday Night Live), Oscar winner Allison Janney (I, Tonya), Doctor Who‘s Ncuti Gatwa, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Hala Finley, and Akie Kotabe.

Ahead of its theatrical release on August 29, The Roses has debuted with a solid 66% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has 47 reviews at the time of writing, so its score is subject to change as more are published. It doesn’t yet have an audience score, though one will start to take shape shortly after it releases in theaters.

What The Roses’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie

The Roses-3

The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score means that its reviews are mostly positive. For instance, in ScreenRant‘s The Roses review, Rachel Labonte writes, “I could watch Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch’s comedic chemistry all day in this twisted divorce story… Though the dark humor won’t be for everyone, The Roses is an entertaining ride that will devastate you just as much as it makes you laugh.”

Otherwise, the reviews are largely praising Cumberbatch and Colman’s comedic chemistry, witty banter, and darkly funny exploration of love, marriage, and resentment. While many critics consider it an effective reimagining of The War of the Roses, a few feel it’s too tame and lacks the real bite of the original movie. Still, The Roses is largely being celebrated by critics.