#1 Cheap The War of the Roses Reviews
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4.4 stars
While it does seem a bit dated by now, Roses does have many very funny scenes, and is one of the blackest comedies to come out of Hollywood since the 70s. Douglas and Turner are far better here than in their Romancing The Stone flicks, and DeVito's direction does credit to Leeson's excellent script.
I can only imagine that anyone going through a divorce would love this one. Thankfully I can't comment on that aspect, knock on wood. There's no love lost between any of the central players here, not just the Roses, and the cynicism is hard-bitten, all the more so for the flashes of love on display. I've always sensed that both Turner and Douglas are at heart rather dark people...there's that edge of nastiness lurking beneath all their best roles that just feels a little too believable. DeVito tkaes those edges and polishes them to gleaming blackness here, and adds many fine camera shots to boot.
I'm not nuts about his overly self-glorifying narrative role, though, and think it detracts a bit and adds too much length to a slightly overlong film. (DeVito says on the dvd extras that WOTR was 3 hours before editing, but even a little more could have been trimmed. The extras are well done, btw, and add to the package. DeVito is clearly proud of this film, and justifiably so.) Trivia note: the guy Danny talks to in his office is actually the voice of Homer Simpson. At least his marriage works!
I loved the ending, so very atypical and so perfectly apt. All in all, this is an almost five star movie that goes on just a little too long, but is absolutely worth seeing if you're in the mood for a very black comedy, or are in the throes of a failing marriage. And seeing as most weddings are soon followed by divorce these days, that leaves a nice wide audience for the Roses and their dyspeptic charades.
The War of the Roses Overview
In this blackest of comedies, a perfect 18-year marriage suddenly becomes unglued and the gleefully evil Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver (Michael Douglas) Rose single-mindedly inflict as much misery as possible on each other. Rather than just get divorced, they declare war, fighting to the bitter end over their huge mansion and every possession in it. Not even the calculating guidance of Oliver's lawyer (Danny DeVito) can stop this uncompromisingly nasty two some as their vicious battle sends them on an increasingly dark and dangerous path.
war of the roses - Alan R. Plante - USA
I like this dvd it was in great shape and a good deal when purchased
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