War Of The Roses (DVD)

...although it is definitely a War of sorts. I'm old enough to remember when this came out in the 1980s, but it wasn't until this century that I actually got to see it. As is the case with many 80s films, it is dated, particularly with regard to clothes and hairstyles, but it is still an enjoyable film that has a lot to say about the relationships between men and women and the sometimes petty arguments that we get ourselves in to.

Oliver ...
...they could possibly want; a beautiful house, lots of money and two children. They are happy; until the children leave home and Barbara runs out of projects to keep her occupied. Even returning to work by running her own business is not quite satisfactory enough. So she decides that she wants a divorce. Oliver is not so keen on the idea, but once he realises that his wife is not going to change her mind, he agrees.

There is one problem ... more

You would be forgiven for thinking that this film is a historical drama, but it is far from that, although it is definitely a War of sorts. I'm old enough to remember when this came out in the 1980s, but it wasn't until this century that I actually got to see it. As is the case with many 80s films, it is dated, particularly with regard to clothes and hairstyles, but it is still an enjoyable film that has a lot to say about the relationships between men and women and the sometimes petty arguments that we get ourselves in to.

Oliver and Barbara Rose are a golden couple with everything that they could possibly want; a beautiful house, lots of money and two children. They are happy; until the children leave home and Barbara runs out of projects to keep her occupied. Even returning to work by running her own business is not quite satisfactory enough. So she decides that she wants a divorce. Oliver is not so keen on the idea, but once he realises that his wife is not going to change her mind, he agrees.

There is one problem though. Neither of them will agree to give up the house. Oliver thinks that because it is his money that bought the house, he should continue to live there after the divorce. Barbara designed the house from top to bottom and nearly everything in it was bought by her, so she believes that she is entitled to the house. With both of them living in it, the only solution is to fight (literally) until the bitter end. Will one of them give in or will they see the error of their ways before it is too late?

The Roses' story is told by Danny DeVito, who plays Oliver's colleague and there are constant flashbacks to his telling of the story to a potential client. This sets the atmosphere to the story, because we know that what initially seems like a love story is, in fact, a lot more entertaining than that. The climax, when it comes, is quite stupendous and a mixture of both funny and desperately sad at the same time. The tension in the plot is released slowly, partly through Danny DeVito's dialogue with his potential client, partly because the atmosphere is conducive with something very nasty about to happen. It is a two hour film, which I would usually find far too long, but in this case, I was glued to the TV screen from start to finish.

I am not a big fan of Michael Douglas, but he does do a fine job in this film as a career man with the world beneath his feet and a wife who stays at home and looks after the house. He genuinely cannot understand why Barbara is restless and wants to change her life when it is so (in his eyes) fulfilling. I found him totally believable as Oliver and he gave an excellent performance towards the end of the film as a man at the end of his tether!

Kathleen Turner is equally good as Barbara. Barbara comes over as being a rather cold woman at the beginning of the film; by the end, it is clear that she is as hard as nails. Unfortunately, although exaggerated, I have seen all too many couples like this, even in this day and age. I thought Turner did an excellent job in this role; it is probably one of her definitive roles, and for good reason.

A mention has to go to Marianne Sagebrecht, a German actress who plays the part of the Roses' live-in cook and cleaner. Although her part is small, her horror at the Roses' treatment of one another is very well done and is very funny. She comes across as being a very kind woman, one that I wanted to hug, and although her role is overshadowed by that of Douglas and Turner, she still manages to stand out.

The humour in this film is unusually black for a Hollywood film and it is for this reason that I think it did well in the UK. There is a fair amount of violence, so it may not be the sort of comedy that you want to sit down and watch with the whole family. However, it does have its funny parts as well; I think the advantage here is that it is laughing at some of the petty arguments that most couples have at some point in their relationship and we can all empathise with this.

The only thing I didn't like about it was that the couple used each other's pets as a way to retaliate against their partner. Although no animal was deliberately harmed, it was hinted at more than once, and as an owner of cats and general animal lover, I found this quite distressing. I do not like to think what I would do if anyone deliberately harmed my cats.

On the whole though, this is a very entertaining film that I have now seen several times and will no doubt see again. Recommended, but vet it before you let any children watch; it is surprisingly violent in parts.

The DVD is available from play.com for £4.99.

Classification: 15

Running time: 116 minutes

 

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