Why ‘The Roses’ Deserves More Recognition on Hulu

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman in a fierce on-screen battle is enough to make anyone want to watch the movie.

When it comes to streaming services, Hulu often takes a backseat to other platforms, even though it’s owned by Disney. That’s why it was a pleasant surprise when "The Roses" quietly made its way onto the platform. Tara and I saw it in theaters right after its release, and we both left thoroughly entertained. It felt like one of those sharp, star-driven comedies that are rarely made these days. While it might not be getting much attention in the Top 10, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a comedy that’s funny, a bit mean, and far more entertaining than its title suggests.

Why “The Roses” is the most underrated comedy on Hulu

“The Roses” starts off as a rom-com but quickly takes a wild turn. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman play Ivy and Theo Rose, a couple who appear perfect from the outside but are anything but once things start falling apart. The film lets their relationship spiral, trusting that watching two great actors lose their minds will be entertaining—and it absolutely is.

If you remember “The War of the Roses,” this movie is playing in a similar sandbox. The original film starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a couple whose divorce turned into a brutal psychological and physical war. Danny DeVito directed and also appeared as their cynical lawyer. What made the original so memorable was how it escalated from a grounded marital comedy to something vicious, absurd, and darkly funny. “The Roses” taps into that same energy, where you’re laughing one minute and slightly horrified the next. It understands that humor comes from escalation, pettiness, and two people refusing to back down, and it fully commits to letting things spiral.

What’s surprising is how quietly this movie came and went in theaters. With such a stellar cast, you’d expect more buzz. Instead, it had a modest run and disappeared before many people even realized it was out. Tara and I caught it because we tend to watch any rom-com-style movie that comes to theaters (which aren’t many), but it didn’t have much hype at the time. Now that it’s on Hulu, I hope it finds the right audience. This is exactly the kind of movie you stumble on during a weeknight scroll and then immediately text someone: “Wait, have you seen this yet?”

Jay Roach directs, and his experience with crowd-pleasing comedies shines through. The pacing is tight, the escalation makes sense, and the film successfully navigates the shift from loving marriage to full-blown emotional warfare without leaving the audience confused about how it all happened. It walks the line between being mean and being honest, never losing sight of the fact that these characters once truly loved each other.

What really seals the deal for me is how committed everyone is. Cumberbatch and Colman are fully in, and you can tell they’re having fun pushing the boundaries further and further. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, Jamie Demetriou, and Zoë Chao all bringing their A-game. There’s never a moment where the film feels like it’s spinning its wheels. Beneath all the chaos, there’s also a surprisingly real take on how pride, resentment, and ego can completely destroy a relationship if no one’s willing to back down. That mix of comedy and emotional truth is probably why audiences connected with it more than the early buzz suggested. But most of all, this movie is just fun—something most movies these days could use more of.

What is “The Roses” about?

At its core, “The Roses” is about a marriage that goes completely off the rails. Theo and Ivy Rose are a successful British couple living what looks like a dream life in California. Theo is a health-obsessed architect who’s been riding a long winning streak, while Ivy is an aspiring chef who’s finally on the verge of her big moment. On paper, they’ve got it all—careers, kids, a beautiful house. The works.

Then Theo’s career takes a hit right as Ivy’s starts to take off, and that balance they’ve been pretending is solid completely flips. Support turns into competition fast. Old resentments bubble up, little arguments explode into big ones, and what starts as passive-aggressive sniping turns into increasingly unhinged attempts to outdo and outlast each other… all while living under the same roof. The movie keeps raising the stakes until their dream home becomes ground zero for emotional warfare. By the end, it feels like you watched a rom-com slowly mutate into something darker and kind of insane. And I love it.

Other underappreciated comedy movies on Hulu

If “The Roses” works for you and you’re in the mood to keep going, Hulu has a few other under-the-radar comedies that are easy recommendations. “Vacation Friends” is loud, ridiculous, and the kind of movie I wish got made more these days. The sequel is worth watching too! “Quiz Lady” is a really charming road-trip comedy about two estranged sisters trying to win a trivia show to fix a family mess, and it sneaks up on you emotionally. And “The Valet” is a sweet, easy watch that plays with the rom-com setup in a way that actually works. Happy streaming!

About Hulu

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It offers a good selection of current TV shows and its ad-supported tier is cheaper than both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You will be able to watch most shows from networks like ABC and Fox, and cable channels like FXX, FXM, HGTV, and more.

The service has a Limited Commercials plan for $9.99 a month, or you can upgrade to their No Ads plan for $18.99 a month. For $82.99 a month, you can get Hulu Live TV from major cable channels, live locals, and regional sports networks.