The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses (1989)

  • 82% of critics liked it
    (38 reviews)

  • 65% of users liked it
    (40,070 ratings)

Divorce lawyer Danny De Vito warns his prospective client that the story he's about to tell isn't a pretty one, but the client listens with eager intensity -- as do the folks out there in the movie in the audience. The War of the Roses can best be described as a slapstick tragedy concerning… More

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R,
Directed By
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Dec 8, 1989 Wide
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    DeVito's taste for unorthodox camera angles and striking camera movements occasionally verges on overreaching but for the most part admirably serves the action.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Trying to wring yocks from a deranged couple locked in mortal combat over possession of their house is more suited to film noir than black comedy.

  • , Time Out

    De Vito's quirky camera angles and Kathleen Turner's steely-eyed spite inject a sadistic comic-strip madness into a film that for once has the nerve to see its nastiness through.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    DeVito's direction is distinctively odd (with a lot of low-angle shots looking up at things), enjoyably mischievous and always somehow mindful that there may be, at the heart of all this comic mayhem, something substantial going on.

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    DeVito triumphs by instilling this caustic satire with truth and consequence.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Alexander D


    THE WAR OF THE ROSES does occasionally suffer from showcasing a handful of gags that literally fall crêpe flat; however, there are tens of dozens of incredibly successful jests-easily enough to outweigh the failures and to make them instantly forgettable. Not since I watched A FISH… More

  • Melvin W


    Oliver Rose: You weren't even multiorgasmic before you met me, were you?  "There is no winning! Only degrees of losing!" It took me a long time to finally watch this movie and it really was worth it. This is a dark comedy out of heaven. I loved everything about it.… More

  • Candy R


    Funny movie about a divorce lawyer and his client Oliver Rose. Barbara worked her whole life to provide for her family and make a good home. When the kids are off to college, she wants to set up her own business. Her husband takes no interest. He thinks their life is perfect but she… More

  • Ken S


    Fun and really dark black comedy about a fighting couple from Danny DeVito.

  • Cassie H


    Very enjoyable 80s movie. Some good laughs but I still love Romancing The Stone & The Jewel Of The Nile the best lol!!!! :)

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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