Movie Review - The Roses

Director: Jay Roach

Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, Allison Janney
 
Description: A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down.
 
Review: It is not uncommon for a remake of a film to be given a slightly different title. However, int the case of “The Roses”, the difference says it all. Danny DeVito’s 1989 original was called “The War of the Roses”, and that war, the (literal) divorce battle that took up most of the film, is merely the dessert in this new version.

Back then the stars were Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, now they are Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. Two actors who know how to handle both the verbal and physical dimension of comedy and who thoroughly enjoy their roles.

Some of the dialogue hits home. At one point, Andy Samberg’s character Barry says “When we were younger, I knew what she was going to say before she said it. Now I don’t know what she’s said after she’s said it.” This feels like something many couples might go though after being together for a long time.

Sometimes you really want a film to live up to your expectations. But a quarter of the way through “The Roses”, you know that’s not happening. It’s understandable that the film needs an introduction. But for at least half of the film, we watch a happy marriage. It’s just like any other romcom. Their marriage is then slowly falling apart, before it finally comes to an outrages divorce battle.  

No complaints about Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, both great, together and apart. Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon, who play friends Barry and Amy, are give little funny material. A waste of comedic talent I would say.

It was still and entertaining film. This is mainly because of the two leads. I expected a more raw, tragicomic film about a broken marriage. But we got a pretty standard romcom with some dark humor at the end.

Rating: 3/ 5

TV Show Review - Sex Education (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2021
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Aimee Lou Wood, Tanya Reynolds, Patricia Allison

Description: Teenager Otis (Asa Butterfield), with a sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson), teams up with high school classmate Maeve (Emma Mackey) to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Review: To the sounds of “I Think We’re Alone Now”, we look inside a dozen or so bedrooms where people are, with great pleasure, having sex. In every conceivable way, in every possible combination and physically viable position. Straight, gay, solo, all genders, colors and preferences pass by. This sets the tone immediately and it’s clear “Sex Education” is back.
Yet again the sexual awakenings of the students of Moordale Secondary School offer more than enough to enjoy. Especially when their newfound freedoms and carefree self-expression come under pressure with the arrival of a new principal: Hope Haddon. She must restore the neat reputation of the so-called ‘sex-school’ and reassure concerned parents. She does this by a far-reaching restriction of freedoms, with a fascist tenor: discipline, censorship, self-control and uniformity are paramount. Students must wear school uniforms, and expressions of personal taste or preferences are prohibited. Violation is punished with humiliation. The creators bring a fine contrast with the introduction of two non-binary characters, with whom the question of school uniforms is immediately an impossible one.
It's a simple scenario, with urgent underlying themes, at a time when conservative forces are sometimes frighteningly easy to dismiss progressive values and achievement. Season 3 is a long ode to those values. And yes, it’s still needed.
In addition to this sympathetic social agenda, this time the creators also manage well to further deepen the characters’ storylines.
In the process, the writers cleverly manage to debunk every stereotype or prejudice. Mean girls turn out to be vulnerable, angry boys are actually sweet, and the friendship between Otis and Eric who talk very candidly about their emotional lives. This is a rarity on TV. I love the heartwarming transition of Adam, who went from a complete jerk to a love-struck kindhearted young man.
“Sex Education” is still daring and the writers don’t shy away from any complicated subjects. I loved season 3, it didn’t disappoint one bit.

TV Show Review - Sex Education (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Aimee Lou Wood, Tanya Reynolds, Patricia Allison

Description: Teenager Otis (Asa Butterfield), with a sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson), teams up with high school classmate Maeve (Emma Mackey) to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Review: The first season of “Sex Education” was one of Netflix’ biggest surprises and a huge success overall. Although not for the faint-hearted, “Sex Education” season 2 is again e hit and I am longing for more.
The second season of the series starts with a somewhat explicit. Otis finally got comfortable with masturbation and in the opening scene we see him ‘enjoying himself’ in bed, the shower, the woods and in the car. The tone is set for season 2. Which starts with a chlamydia outbreak. A lot of naming and shaming and most of all hysteria at school. That last is what Otis claims it is. After he broke with friend Maeve, he is no longer consulting students about their sexual problems. But not for long, because this ‘outbreak’ brings them back together. But there is competition, in the form of his own mother, who is providing sex education at their school.
Season 2 is nothing new, but it has all the ingredients that make “Sex Education” great. Themes like love, friendship, violation, honesty, family, boundaries and being yourself are talked about in a light-hearted and heartfelt matter. The series is very outspoken and relatable and they makers don’t shy away to touch up on difficult themes.
I couldn’t recommend “Sex Education” enough, it’s a definite must-see. And season 2 lives up to the hype of the first season. I can’t wait for another season of Otis and his friends dealing with all these problems.

TV Show Review - Sex Education (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2019
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Aimee Lou Wood, Tanya Reynolds, Patricia Allison

Description: Teenager Otis (Asa Butterfield), with a sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson), teams up with high school classmate Maeve (Emma Mackey) to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Review: People who are prudish can better ignore “Sex Education”. In this fantastic drama by Netflix, sexuality in the broadest sense of the word is examined and portrayed in a humorous, warm and sincere way. Less than a month after the release date, on February 1, 2019, Netflix announced that “Sex Education” would return for a second season. That's not surprising when you consider that within four weeks, an estimated 40 million households have watched the series.
“Sex Education” tells the story of Otis Milburn and his environment. Otis is sixteen, a virgin, a tad shy and struggling to masturbate. His mother Jean is a sex therapist, doesn’t do relationships and always over-analyzes her son. Together they live in a beautiful house in the English country side, which is covered with pornographic images, sex toys and erotic art. Jean works from home and advices clients about their sex lives. Even though Otis is unexperienced himself, he has a lot of psychological knowledge.
The series starts on the first day after the summer break. Otis and his best friend Eric ride their bikes to school. Eric tells Otis that all their classmates had sex this summer. Otis gives sex advice to Adam, the bully in school. And Maeve witnesses this and sees an opportunity. She convinces Otis to start a sec therapy clinic at school. And they discover that many kids in their school have issues with their sexuality. The way the story is told around Otis and his mates growing to adulthood is very refreshing.
Unlike other coming of age stories, “Sex Education” tackles the subject of sexuality in a more authentic way. Instead of just pure underpants fun, glorifying alcohol and drug use and romancing sex, there is more stratification and ambiguity in the way these subjects are dealt with in ”Sex Education”. In a light-hearted way, various sides of issues that are generally in the taboo area are addressed. For example racism, abortion, erection problems, panic attacks, feminism, homophobia, masturbation and revenge pornography. It is clever of the makers that they cover these subjects without the series turning into one big valley of tears. As far as I am concerned, that is the great strength of the series.
The acting lifts the series to a higher level. Asa Butterfield portrays Otis in a very special and sincere way. Gillian Anderson is brilliant as his free-spirited yet concerned mother with razor-sharp remarks. The rest of the cast consists mainly of newcomers who play excellently. For instance, Emma Mackey convinces as a rebellious teenager, Connor Swindells is a perfect bully and Aimee Lou Wood and Tanya Reynolds provide the necessary laughs as teenage girls on a voyage of discovery. Ncuti Gatwa deserves a special mention as Eric. It's amazing how he manages to play a dark, flamboyant, gay boy who effortlessly switches between comic, tragic and combative without going completely over the top. As far as I'm concerned, Ncuti is the great discovery of the series.
The series is also great visually. The use of color, the surroundings and the decoration are a feast for the eyes. Thanks to the clothing and choice of music, the series seems to take place in the 80s. Yet the characters all have smartphones and watch porn on computers. Several decades seem to merge into “Sex Education”. According to maker Laurie Nunn, the series is a tribute to 1980s films such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink” by the king of teen comedy, John Hughes. The themes covered turn out to be universal and timeless. All in all, “Sex Education” is a more than successful, surprising series in the genre. A new favorite series for me!