by Julian Wood
Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino, Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona
Intro:
… an energetic comedy of manners and a satire on modern marriage.
This is an energetic comedy of manners and a satire on modern marriage. Co-written by Michael Angelo Covino (who also helmed) and Kyle Marvin, it features them as two young-middle aged American males who simply don’t understand what their women want but are prepared to keep trying.
Splitsville opens when Carey (Marvin) is driving to spend a weekend with his friend Paul (Covino) and Paul’s partner Julie (Dakota Johnson). It is at this precise point that Carey’s wife Ashley (Adria Arjona) tells him that she wants them to split. Carey’s immediate response, which may indicate a pattern in his life and in their relationship, is to run as far away from any meaningful conversation as fast as he can.
Later, Carey learns that Paul and Julie ‘solve’ their marital problems with an open marriage. Cue as much misunderstanding, crossed wires and farcical bed-swapping behaviour as they can cram into two hectic over-plotted hours.
The film is basically an offbeat romcom, which despite its hip refusal of established norms is actually quite conventional. Either way, you might find aspects of the characters annoyingly unself-aware.
The men are presented as essentially emotionally-dependent babies, whilst the women are mostly wise underneath. They are patient enough to let the men burn themselves out until they come to heal.
It is hard to really like any of the characters in the film, but whether that actually matters is debatable. They live in a monied bubble. They are self-obsessed and only notionally aware of their privilege but maybe, that is to miss the point and to take the film’s lack of message too seriously. Lighten up dude.
To be fair, you can see the effort they have put in. The material has been an idea between Covino and Marvin (who made and starred in the surprise hit indie The Climb (2019), which also explored problematic male behaviour) for a while, and they have worked the script to a burnished sheen. There are chuckles to be had, including several funny exchanges and some verbal zingers. There is also one long comedic sequence (no spoilers) that is deliberately over-extended.
The film could function as a slightly risqué date movie and it is certainly charming; there is also a wonderful cameo from Nicholas Braun (Succession). Oh yes, and Kyle Marvin is pretty well hung. More information than you needed? Well, let’s just say that he seems to want us to know this because there are multiple references to it and even a sight gag. And, in case you hadn’t picked up on that, there is a pointless shower scene where he can put on record the, er, evidence. But of course, there is much more to the film – after all, it is a fully-realised comedy and not just a dick pic.
