Words Scott J. Davis

The 1980s were defined by some fantastic black comedies, and one of the very best is Danny DeVito’s adaptation of Warren Adler’s novel, where Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner bring a vicious divorce battle to life.

Fast forward three decades, The Roses are reinvented for the twenty-first century by Austin Powers and Meet The Parents director Jay Roach, with two of Britain’s biggest stars leading the charge.

Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch take on the roles of a married couple who, quite simply, want to kill each other.

If you don’t know the story, let’s catch up: The Roses, in this case Theo and Ivy, once happily married, find their relationship breaking down as their lives take different paths. What begins as a divorce soon escalates into all-out war, with each partner determined to tear the other down in the most outrageous – and hilarious – ways possible.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve only had a taste. Brace yourself for dark, nefarious, and downright vile tactics to win the war.

The fact that all of this chaos is being brought to life by such esteemed acting talents as Colman and Cumberbatch, both proven to be extremely funny in the right setting, makes the film even more enticing.

Throw in a couple of comedy heavyweights from across the pond, Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg, and you’ve got the makings of something truly special.

Big-Screen Break-Ups

Leonardo DiCaprio x Margot Robbie
The Wolf Of Wall Street

DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort can't hide his misdemeanours from his wife Naomi for long, and the result is one of cinema's most memorable onscreen arguments.

Will Ferrell x Christina Applegate
Anchorman

The on-air/off-air relationshiop between legendary news hosts Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone proves to be a real rollercoaster - one minue taking a trip to Pleaure Town, the next, throwing televisions at each other.

Brad Pitt x Angelina Jolie
Mr & Mrs Smith

In a twist on The War Of The Roses, happily married Mr & Mrs Smitha ren't heading for divorce, but total destruction when they discover they're both secret agents who are both assigned to kill the other. Peak marriage counselling.