Splitsville – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 30th of August 2025
Madman Films presents a film by Michael Angelo Covino
Written by Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin
Produced by Emily Korteweg, Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Ryan Heller, Jeff Deutchman, Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly, and Samantha Racanelli
Starring Kyle Marvin, Adria Arjona, Dakota Johnson, and Michael Angelo Covino
Running Time: 100 minutes
Rating: CTC
Release Date: the 11th of September 2025
Splitsville tells the story of two couples, whose marriages spectacularly collide when they both become open to the concept of an open marriage. The relationship of Carey (an affable and vulnerable Kyle Marvin) and Ashley (an enjoyably flighty Adria Arjona) crashes to the point that it causes a traffic collision. Unable to face Ashley’s insistence on divorce, Carey runs through miles of bushland and swims through metres of open water to the home of his best friend, Paul (an amusingly arrogant Michael Angelo Covino) and his wife, Julie (played with believable humanity and an enjoyably ironic detachment by Dakota Johnson).
Relaying what happened, Paul introduces Carey to the concept of open marriage, which he swears by while Julie is seemingly tolerant. When Carey dives deeper into the concept and brings Ashley into it, their marriages deteriorate as their furore spreads like a virus, infecting everyone in its path. Splitsville is the latest film from the pairing of Covino and Marvin. They are both filmmakers and best friends who created the acclaimed indie comedy The Climb (2019). Known for being hilarious and incisive in terms of its examination of male friendships, The Climb combined comedic farce with true-to-life pathos and assured filmmaking to create compelling cinema.
Their latest film continues that trend. In addition to male friendships, Covino and Marvin explore relationship dynamics between married couples, unpacking the hypocrisies, double-standards, and self-centred notions they entail. Even if it is less like a maturation from The Climb and more like a spiritual follow-up, Splitsville features enough goodwill to offset its imbalance to comedic aplomb.
As for negatives, the film’s character definition is inconsistent and lacks The Climb’s conciseness. The romantic entanglements gradually escalate leaving characters feeling less developed and significant, particularly Ashley whose arc lacks clarity. Additionally, the storytelling is more sentimental and sincere towards its characters, which leads the narrative down predictable paths. When it reaches a climax, it feels incendiary with its impact, inconsistent with its character actions, and inevitable with its intent as the deceptions and hidden agendas mount.
Thankfully, the film still shows Covino and Marvin at the top of their game in terms of filmmaking and effective humour. The dialogue is razor-sharp in its honesty. “She’s a life coach, what did you expect?” is exclaimed after a partner leaves. It is also witty in its foreshadowing. “You said you wanted to try new things,” is exclaimed to two wildly different responses. The aloof delivery is striking. Meanwhile, the physical comedy reaches its peak in a fight scene compellingly choreographed in its scrappiness (the actors appear to have undertaken their stunts themselves) and hilariously overlong in its insistence.
The storytelling possesses elegant stylistic flourishes that accentuate the comedy and stakes. In a standout scene, we see the progression of Ashley’s lovers as Carey tries to befriend all of them. The scene is shot in a single take while the passage of time is seamless. The cast and crew prove game with the choreography and the mise-en-scene. There are numerous details in the story that vary from absurd (Succession’s Nicholas Braun plays a failing mediator who leaves our four leads in crisis) to quirky (the running gag of showing Carey’s penis in which characters react nonchalantly) that are alarmingly droll.
Overall, Splitsville is a sharply funny look into the trials and tribulations in relationships that balances harsh truths and cautious hypocrisies with honesty and comedic prowess. Thanks to solid filmmaking and a game cast, it deserves a recommendation.
Summary: A sharply funny look into the trials and tribulations in relationships that balances harsh truths and cautious hypocrisies with honesty and comedic prowess.
4
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