Overview

• The film, directed by Jay Roach from a Tony McNamara screenplay, is positioned as a contemporary reimagining of Warren Adler’s The War of the Roses.
• Critics broadly commend Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch’s performances and rapport, citing sharp, witty dialogue as a major strength.
• Multiple reviews describe a late tonal escalation as jarring or bleak, with the finale labeled polarizing by some, though specifics remain under wraps.
• The narrative focuses on a marriage strained by a career reversal and simmering resentments, with the physical conflict arriving later than in the 1989 film.
• Searchlight will release the R-rated, 1 hour 45 minute feature in theaters on Aug. 29, with Allison Janney, Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon earning notice in support.