Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin came onto the scene when their debut film, The Climb, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, an odd bit of programming considering that it was made by two American first-time filmmakers. The duo found a way to make a mark with their impressive DIY film, in which they played the two main roles, and the movie would then play a number of other festivals before finally getting a release. Sadly, it was in the midst of COVID in October 2020.
After a brief foray into studio comedies with 2023’s 80 for Brady, Covino and Marvin are back doing their own thing with Splitsville. This time, they have two high-profile co-stars in Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona (Hit Man). Arjona and Marvin play married couple Ashley and Carey, who we meet as they’re having a frisky moment on the highway that leads to a collision and Ashley confessing that she wants a divorce. When Carey tries to get some solace from his best friend Paul (Covino) and his wife Julie (Johnson), they tell him how they have an open marriage, and that’s why it works. That, in turn, leads to Julie and Carey having a tryst, and things just go downhill (quite comedically) from there.
As with The Climb, Splitsville is one of the most original and hilarious situational comedies you’re likely to see this year, as the duo have created another idiosyncratic relationship comedy unlike anything else being made in Hollywood, full of drama and action, and many unexpected moments.
Cinema Daily US had a chance to speak with Covino and Marvin via video a few weeks back, an interview you can see above, where they discussed continuing their unique style of filmmaking following a foray into studio comedies with 80 for Brady.
Splitsville is now playing in New York and L.A. It will expand to more cities on Friday, August 29, before being released nationwide on September 5.
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Director: Michael Angelo Covino
Screenwriter: Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Kyle Marvin, Adria Arjona, Michael Angelo Covino
Producer: Emily Corteweg, Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Ryan Heller, Jeff Deutchman, Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly, Samantha Racanelli
Production Co: Watch This Ready, TeaTime Pictures, Topic Studios, Neon
Distributor: Neon
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Sexual Content|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): August 22, 2025 (limited); September 5 (nationwide)
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
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You can watch the trailer below: