The War of the Roses (1989)

Benson finds the film a thoughtful, laceratingly funny black comedy that stays true to its vision. She especially praises the script’s gradual buildup and DeVito’s unflinching direction.

The critic praises the film as a gleefully dark comedy that turns marital conflict into a merciless farce. They single out its sharply structured screenplay and striking technical craft, including the production design and cinematography.

Parkinson sees the film as a blistering, vicious comedy about acquisitiveness rather than marriage itself. He praises Douglas and Turner’s bile-filled performances and singles out the fish-stew scene as a standout.

The review presents the film as an entertaining portrait of a marriage falling apart. It singles out its wicked, wince-inducing humor as a source of comic appeal.

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The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text.

Billson finds the film a bleak, risky portrait of marriage, though not a particularly funny one. She praises DeVito’s visual staging and willingness to resist a feel-good ending, while criticizing the characters’ unlikeability and a few sentimental concessions.

The critic finds the film’s misanthropic comedy alienating and ill-suited to its subject. The sexually charged performances of Douglas and Turner are singled out for keeping the story fresh.

The critic finds the film sharply witty and well-played, but disturbing in its treatment of domestic violence and gender. They single out its bleak portrayal of a marriage where the struggle for power masquerades as intimacy.