Spitsville: A comedy with no limits

Splitsville is a comedy that honestly discusses some serious questions but comes across as silly at the right times. Being co-written by two actors Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino, who also play the main male characters Carey and Paul respectively, the movie explores themes of polyamory and open relationships. It is the second collaboration of the duo, after their debut movie The Climb (2019). As the other two protagonists, the movie stars Dakota Jonson as Julie and Adria Arjona as Ashely.

Trying to comfort Carey after he found out Ashley cheated on him several times during their 14 months marriage, Paul and Julie reveal the secret of a successful relationship. Absolute honesty and acceptance seem to be a way to deal with cheating and jealousy. Carey, who was initially skeptical about this strategy, slowly begins to see its advantages and starts an affair with Julie at the same time accepting the endless lovers of his wife. However, complete honesty does not always lead to consensus. 

The movie division in acts seems slightly pretentious, but it adds an irony of sorts to the hilarious development of the relationship between the characters. Their interconnections evolve really fast and it is really necessary to record the state of affairs. So, stages such as “Disclosure of facts” , “Tenants in common”, “Free of duress” also define the steps and effects of open relationship between the characters. While for Carey and Ashley it actually becomes the right way to stay together, for Julie and Paul on the other hand ruins their harmony and brings them both closer to their real feelings.

Talking about the characters, although it is easy to feel a stronger connection with ones that resonate more to the spectator, some are more developed than others. In my opinion, Carey and Julie were shown deeper and were better revealed than Ashley and Paul. Jonson's performance as Julie, seemed to me even more convincing than her recent role as Lucy in Materialists (2025). In Splitsville , her character is more consistent and actually follows her principles. Julie agreed to accept Paul as long as he accepted her, and when his attitude changed she was not loyal anymore, compared to Lucy, who changed her mind and behavior without any actual reason being displayed on screen. Marvin's character Carey probably carries the majority of comedy scenes in the film. Carey is the one to be spotted naked, left or suppressed by other characters, the one to split or break something. He is often presented awkward and vulnerable, which creates more sympathy for his character. 

Covino's Paul is more controversial in that sense and can be even perceived antagonistic in nature at some point. Presented as materialist and “Don Juan” Paul turns out to be insecure and devoted to Julie, which might actually be relatable and truthful, but did not feel convincing. Same goes for Ashley, whose aspirations to have richer sexual experience, overshadows her love for Carey and even her long speeches read from paper do not make me believe in her sincere desire to be with him. Moreover, her drastic transition from being a sexually adventurous woman to becoming a mother wearing typical housewife dresses seems insincere.

The movie is full of expressive action scenes, which, despite sometimes appearing out of place, are still mesmerizing. The starting episode ends with a car crash that Ashley and Carey witness, trying to get people out of the overturned car and wait for the police to state that the woman passenger is dead.The scene's early placement is unexpected and contrasts with the rest of the film. While it might symbolize the impending collapse of Ashley and Carey's relationship, the scene may appear redundant in retrospect. Another example is the fight scene with no limits, when Carey and Paul destroy the whole beach house, crushing the furniture and sparing no interior item to attack each other. Michael Angelo Covino said he was inspired by the Jackie Chan movies, where any object could be used for the thrilling fight. This scene lasts for 6 minutes, including the time to save Paul's son's fish, after the aquarium was broken (not the only time fish suffered in this film). Although this scene may appear overly long or excessive, it seems to embody what the creators intended to make distinctive about the film.

The movie is very pleasing to watch aesthetically. Whether it is Carey driving in the car through beautiful fields in the light of the setting sun and listening to Ashley offering divorce. Or Julie making pottery in the morning in their beautiful villa near the beach. Even though there are not many interesting cinematic decisions, probably with the exception of the camera following men during their fight, the movie is well done. The arrangement of the setting and direction of the long action scenes, like the fight scene or the scene with a fire at a birthday party, are truly impressive. 

Overall, I would define this movie as a dramedy. Not only because all the events that are supposed to be fun are perceived seriously by the characters, but also because none of them are exaggerated. There is a balance between the note of irony in what is happening and dramatic development. For instance, the scene where Paul brings Julie the signed papers for the divorce, she starts crying and when Paul suggests to cancel everything and get back together, Julie clarifies that these are tears of happiness. The humor is often on the edge between if we should laugh or empathize with the characters.