Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin first met while working in the advertising industry.  They put aside a little money, helped produce a few movies, and then waded into feature films with The Climb which premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.  It was a low-budget, independent film with the pair credited as screenwriters, starring in the two lead roles and, in the case of Covino, serving as director.  It didn’t find much love at the box-office given its release during COVID-19 but was an important stepping stone in establishing their talent and credibility.

The duo has returned with a bigger budget and a more high-profile cast for their sophomore outing, Splitsville.  Both take on acting roles again and have been joined by the recognisable Dakota Johnson (Materialists), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and Adria Arjona (Father of the Bride).  The poster describes it as an “unromantic comedy” and it’s a suitable description.  We start with two (seemingly) happy married couples but over the course of several chapters, their respective relationships deteriorate in humorous fashion.

We begin with Ashley (Arjona) having a not-so-near death experience and deciding to confess to her boring husband, Carey (Marvin), that she’s been unfaithful many times and now wants a divorce.  He is floored by the unexpected revelation and runs/swims to the lakeside home of his wealthy friends, Paul (Covino) and Julie (Johnson).  As a modern, free-spirited couple, they’re not as perturbed by the news.  In addition to have almost no social boundaries, evidenced by an eyebrow-raising moment when Carey uses their bathroom for a shower, they reveal their marriage is an open one.  It’s a shock for the conservative Carey who is now starting to see the world differently when it comes to masculinity and monogamy.

Splitsville goes on wild, unexpected tangents.  From a cacophony of new lovers which enter Ashley’s life, through to a crazy-long fight sequence, through to a subplot involving a trouble-making child (Webster)… this is a comedy which uses a mix of randomness and edginess to generate its well-earned laughs.  Perhaps a touch more subtlety could have been added to characters (the Carey we first meet is such a clueless dork) but the actors deserve praise.  Despite the absurdity of each situation, they play their roles with an intense, straight-faced seriousness.  It never feels like the cast are deliberately trying to be funny… which only makes it funnier!

Also fortunate enough to be picked for a debut at Cannes, back in May 2025, Splitsville is nutty entertainment.