Five years after The Climb hit theaters, filmmakers and actors Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin reunite for the sharp, hysterical comedy Splitsville.

When Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, affable Carey (Kyle Marvin) bolts from the car and runs to his closest friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), seeking comfort at their beach house. To his surprise, their seemingly solid marriage thrives on openness and unconventional boundaries. But when Carey oversteps, the fragile balance between friendship, love, and loyalty unravels, throwing all four lives into turmoil.

Both couples are in very different places when we first meet them. Ashley and Carey have only been married a little over a year. Carey thinks they’re solid, but Ashley’s sudden announcement shatters that illusion. Meanwhile, Julie and Paul’s open marriage has its own complications. As the Splitsville trailer hints, it doesn’t take long before Carey and Julie cross a line while Paul is away—an indiscretion that sparks even more chaos.

After that kiss—and the inevitable fallout—Carey convinces himself this could be the key to saving his marriage. Instead of therapy, Ashley and Carey end up in a house overflowing with her ex-lovers. When Julie kicks Paul out, he’s thrown into the fray as well. The whole premise is absurd, but that absurdity is exactly what makes Splitsville so hysterical.

At its core, the film has something sharp to say about love and commitment in the most unorthodox way possible. Rom-coms usually lean on familiar tropes—sometimes with a small twist. This film feels like the opposite: an anti-romantic comedy that’s somehow more honest than most traditional rom-coms. You never quite know what’s coming next or whether anyone will still be coupled up by the end.

And then there’s the fight. Forget comic book and action movie showdowns—Splitsville features one of the best fight scenes to hit the big screen in years. Covino and Marvin do their own stunts, rehearsed for weeks and filmed over just five days, as they tear through an entire house. It’s brutal, hilarious, and a little heartbreaking—especially when the fish tank shatters and those poor fish don’t make it. Absurd, yes. But still tragic.

Visually, Splitsville stands apart. Shot on 35mm rather than digital, the film makes deliberate choices in framing and coverage, often relying on a single master or one carefully composed angle instead of traditional comedy coverage. That restraint makes the chaos feel even more impressive, particularly during the fight. It’s a gorgeous film that knows exactly what it’s doing with every frame.

Thanks to Covino and Marvin’s sharp writing and Sara Shaw’s tight editing, the 100-minute runtime flies by. I never once checked my watch—though I was tempted only once, before quickly getting pulled back in. Honestly, the only distraction was waiters crossing rows to deliver food and drinks, but that’s a gripe for another column.

Awards talk may be premature, but Splitsville deserves to be in the conversation. Comedies are often overlooked at Oscar time, but this script is too sharp to ignore. The themes of open marriage and monogamy aren’t new, yet the way the film handles them feels timeless. And if the Academy’s Best Stunt Design category were already in place, this would be a serious contender—even against the biggest action blockbusters.

Ultimately, Splitsville is a rare comedy that balances chaos with intelligence. It’s absurd, hilarious, visually striking, and offers its own insights about love, relationships, and human behavior. With sharp writing, fearless performances, and a standout fight sequence, the film lingers long after the credits roll. Whether you’re a rom-com fan or just looking for a fresh, unpredictable comedy, Splitsville proves that there’s still room for bold, original storytelling in the genre.

DIRECTOR: Michael Angelo Covino
SCREENWRITERS: Michael Angelo Covino & Kyle Marvin
CAST: Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino, Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, O-T Fagbenle, Charlie Gillespie, Simon Webster

Neon released Splitsville in theaters on August 22, 2025. Grade: 4/5

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