Film Review - Splitsville
Images courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
Splitsville was a film I was apprehensive of before walking in. I hadn’t been impressed by the trailers, and its narrative thrust about the wallowing one feels in the wake of a break up seemed simply uninteresting. So, when I got up from my theatre seat and was able to confidently tell my friend “this is the best time I’ve had at the movies all year”, I was shocked, and happily so.
The film follows divorcee Carey (played by co-writer Kyle Marvin in an incredibly endearing performance) finding his way in newly single life. This is all the info I had before I walked into the screening, and it’s as much info as I think is needed to enjoy Splitsville to the fullest. Director/Co-Writer Micheal Angelo Covino steps on the gas from scene one and doesn’t allow a breath until credits roll, making the film a relentless comedic experience it seems like modern filmmaking has been void of recently. Each laugh was so much funnier than the last that it made the thought of going to the bathroom distressing; was I going to miss the next best joke?
These laughs aren’t the only card Splitsville has up its sleeve: it's saddled with a cast whose commitment to its bits make every scene so much better. Adria Arjona and her character Ashley (Carey’s ex) is a particular stand out here. Once we’re reintroduced to her and her assorted harem of lovers (sounds crazy without context), the middle portion of the film feels livened up. Each new character acts as another avenue for comedy, and Covino’s understanding of when and when not to use each of them makes the overall viewing experience sharper. No joke overstays its welcome in Splitsville, and that intentionality is very appreciated.
Covino’s film isn’t just laughs though, its comedy has a consistent layer of humanity grounding it - specifically through its leads: the aforementioned Carey, his best friend Paul (also played by Covino), Arjona’s Ashley, and Dakota Johnson's Julie (Paul’s wife). We ride the highs of newfound love between Carey and Julie, and see the depths of Paul's rage in the face of that love. While it was amusing seeing Carey and Paul violently battle through a beautiful mansion, the narrative context of watching a friendship deteriorate made the fight all the more compelling. The true question Splitsville asks is whether these four could possibly find happiness within each other, in spite of the suffering they’ve caused one another?
Whether or not that question is answered is for you to find out. The joy of Splitsville is in watching its craziness unfold with no indication of where it’s going next, and I hope every person's first experience with it is as exciting as mine. I came out with a smile on my face and a feeling of joy I hadn’t got from any other film I’ve seen recently, and the novelty of that alone, I believe, makes Splitsville the best film of the year (so far).
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Splitsville is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.