Is The Roses woke?
The Roses (2025)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2025
Wokeness Score
4/10
Light Social Awareness
Some light diversity or inclusion elements that feel natural and organic. Woke themes are subtle, non-intrusive, and fully integrated into the story without drawing attention to themselves.
Key Summary Points
- Reverses gender roles with Ivy's career ascent and Theo as stay-at-home dad, integrated naturally into plot.
- Diverse supporting cast like Ncuti Gatwa and Sunita Mani in minor roles, feels like light token diversity.
- Theo's environmentalism and progressive friend stereotypes add subtle liberal flavor without preaching.
Wokeness Analysis
The Roses, a 2025 reimagining of the 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses, introduces mild modern sensibilities through its update to contemporary gender dynamics and light diversity elements, but these remain subtle and integrated into the core story of marital collapse without dominating the narrative. Originally a tale critiquing no-fault divorce and materialism among traditional couples, this version flips roles organically: Ivy (Olivia Colman), initially the homemaker, rises to culinary empire status with her 'You've Got Crabs' chain, while Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch), the architect, becomes a stay-at-home dad after career failure, highlighting tensions from dual high-achieving ambitions in a modern context. Reviews note this shift explores equal career pursuits and role reversals naturally, with Theo's resentment feeling authentic rather than preached. Diversity appears via supporting cast including Ncuti Gatwa (Jeffrey), Sunita Mani (Jane), and a gay waiter critiqued as stereotypical tokenism rather than substantive representation. Theo's environmentalist traits and friends like Kate McKinnon's 'obnoxious progressive' Amy add liberal signaling, but these are comedic accessories, not ideological drivers. Critics observe the film pulls punches on darkness, avoiding heavy-handed activism, focusing instead on escapist satire of ambition-fueled resentment. No overt indoctrination or lecturing alienates viewers; woke elements feel organic to 2025 California elite life, supporting character motivations without overshadowing entertainment. This aligns with mild inclusion that doesn't preach, earning a 4 for non-intrusive modern touches amid universal relationship chaos.
Plot
The Roses follows Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo Rose (Benedict Cumberbatch), a seemingly perfect British couple who relocate to California chasing dreams: she as a chef, he as an innovative architect. Their idyllic life with twin kids unravels when Theo's ambitious eco-building project fails catastrophically, costing his job, while Ivy skyrockets to fame with her restaurant chain 'You've Got Crabs.' Role reversal breeds resentment—Theo becomes Mr. Mom, Ivy the breadwinner—igniting petty bickering over their dream home build, escalating to vicious divorce war. Amid therapy fails, toxic friends (Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Chao, Jamie Demetriou), and sabotage, their love turns to loathing in a black comedy of competition and hidden grudges. Directed by Jay Roach from Tony McNamara's script, it's a satirical update emphasizing modern dual-career stresses over the original's boomer materialism.