In a world where relationship rules seem to change daily, “Splitsville” explores the question: Can friendship survive when love becomes complicated? The answer is hilariously messy.
“Splitsville” is a 2025 romantic comedy, which received an impressive six-minute standing ovation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This response proves that director Michael Angelo Covino has created something special with his comedic take on relationship chaos.
The film follows Carey (Kyle Marvin), whose life unravels when his wife, Ashley (Adria Arjona), asks for a divorce. Seeking comfort from his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), a couple in an open marriage, Carey makes a disastrous choice that jeopardises all their relationships. When he crosses the ultimate friendship boundary by sleeping with Julie, their carefully constructed world of modern love arrangements spirals into chaos.
Michael Angelo Covino directs and co-writes this comedy film with Kyle Marvin, continuing their acclaimed collaboration from “The Climb.” Dakota Johnson stars and also produces, showcasing her commitment to projects that challenge traditional romantic comedy formulas. The ensemble cast also includes Adria Arjona, Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, and O-T Fagbenle, who deliver performances that effectively balance broad comedy with genuine emotional stakes.
Addressing the messy reality of modern relationships without sugar-coating the consequences. The film delves into how contemporary attempts to redefine love through open marriages and fluid boundaries often create more problems than they resolve. Critics praise it as both a screwball comedy and an intense relationship drama, suggesting that Covino has successfully elevated the genre beyond typical romantic comedy conventions.
Splitsville explores the themes of friendship boundaries, communication failures, and the clash between traditional and modern relationship approaches, which resonate particularly strongly in today’s cultural landscape. The film serves both as entertainment and as a cautionary tale about the risks of crossing friendship lines in the name of love.
Premiered at Cannes on May 19, 2025, and hitting theatres nationwide on August 22, “Splitsville” promises to be the romantic comedy that defines the year. For audiences weary of predictable romantic comedies, this film offers the perfect antidote: a story that acknowledges that modern relationships are messy, complicated, and often hilariously dysfunctional.
Whether you’re navigating traditional relationships, open marriages, or embracing singlehood, “Splitsville” delivers both cringe-worthy moments and genuine insights into the chaos that ensues when friends cross lines they probably shouldn’t.
