Splitsville: Movie Review

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Nicholas Braun
Director: Michael Angelo Covino

One of the more unexpectedly riotous comedies of the year meshed together with an adult drama, Splitsville is more about upending expectations than conforming to them.

And yet, with its simple and familiar story of falling for the wrong people and dealing with the fallout, Covino and his frequent collaborator Marvin have created something that's as recognisable as it is original.

Heading to his friend's lake house, Carey (Marvin) is caught out by his life coach wife Ashley (Blink Twice's Arjona) who declares that despite their recent marriage, she wants to break up after witnessing a car crash. Determined to push ahead with his holiday, Carey is stunned to learn his friend Paul (Covino) and Julie (Johnson) have an open marriage - and things are further complicated when Paul heads away, leaving Julie and Carey to act impulsively on their connection....

Splitsville delights in the unexpected.

Whether it's a fight sequence between Carey and Paul that's as messy as it is funny, or a rollercoaster ride that is laugh-out-loud, Splitsville has its sights set on the unconventional and achieves it with farcically good effect.

But its more screwball edges are tempered with grounded characters that feel as relatable as they are messy in a story that trucks along with pace. Yet rather than overwhelm proceedings with silliness, the film keeps its sensibilities in check to provide a screenplay that crackles with chemistry as well as veracity.

While both Johnson and Arjona feel slightly underdeveloped on the character side of things, it's not a fatal flaw and it's clear that Marvin and Corvino have workshopped their own relationship in the movie ahead of those who orbit them.

However, when a film as fresh as Splitsville comes along, these minor niggles are nothing but churlish. At its heart, Splitsville represents a great time in the cinema and shows that even though we're late in 2025, some movies can still deliver pleasant surprises.