Splitsville, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is a sharp, absurdist romantic comedy directed by Michael Angelo Covino, who co-wrote the script with Kyle Marvin.

The film offers a contemporary, twisted take on relationships, centering on Carey and Ashley as they attempt to navigate the messy, unpredictable terrain of an open marriage. After Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, the ever-optimistic Carey (Kyle Marvin) turns to his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support. He’s stunned to learn that their happiness hinges on an open marriage, and his own attempts to embrace the lifestyle soon spiral into chaos, throwing all their relationships into a whirlwind of romantic madness.

As Carey’s well-intentioned efforts to spice things up backfire, Splitsville unfolds with plenty of comedic mayhem and slapstick humor. Dakota Johnson, Marvin, and Covino shine with standout performances, each exploring the messy, complicated, and sometimes absurd nature of love. The story kicks off with Carey and Ashley (Adria Arjona) visiting Paul and Julie, only for a car accident—a bizarre attempt to save their relationship—to set the tone for the chaos that follows. What starts as a laugh-out-loud dive into the unexpected soon evolves into a sharp, darkly funny exploration of what we really want from our partners, and the ways we deceive ourselves into thinking we know what’s best.

Though Splitsville leans heavily into comedy, it does not refrain from offering an acerbic commentary on modern love and relationships, constantly subverting expectations and refuses to stick to the usual formula. The antics of these four friends, moving through love, jealousy, and awkwardness, make Splitsville both unexpectedly hilarious and deeply insightful. It is a film about romance, yes, but one that fully embraces the chaos and humor in how we all stumble through it.