Here’s our first trailer for “The Roses,” which has tested a few times, and word is not that positive for the film; it already has a worrisome release date attached to its name. This drive to remake every single Hollywood movie must stop immediately.
Director Jay Roach's latest is a remake of Danny DeVito’s 1989 black comedy “The War of the Roses,” which starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a feuding couple who fight each other to the death. I love that film. DeVito’s specialty, as a director, was always pitch-black humor (“Throw Momma Off the Train,” “Death to Smoochy”), and I doubt Roach will want to be as nastily delicious with the comedy.
This time around, the vengeful lovebirds will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The rest of the cast includes Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney. Tony McNamara is writing the screenplay. Searchlight is producing. It’s also been retitled “The Roses.”
All this to say, “The Roses” has been given a Labour Day launch — Searchlight has just dated it for an August 29 release. There goes the fall fests. The last week of August is not where you want your film positioned on the release calendar. Then again, was there ever any indication this remake would turn out great?
Roach rose to fame with the ‘Austin Powers’ franchise, blending absurd humor with sharp wit, and soon after started another comedy franchise with 2000s “Meet the Parents.” Roach has also tackled political films such as “Bombshell” and “Trumbo.” His other credits include “Mystery, Alaska” and “The Campaign.”
BONUS: Best Films of 1989: (1) Do the Right Thing (2) The Cook, The Thief, The Wife, and His Lover (3) My Left Foot (4) Crimes and Misdemeanors (5) Drugstore Cowboy (6) Dead Poets Society (7) Casualties of War (8) The Killer (9) The War of the Roses (10) Batman