Splitsville

In the comedy Splitsville, Ashley, played by an actress who isn't specified in this review, decides that she’s had enough of her marriage to Carey and files for a divorce. Not one to dwell on his impending separation, Carey immediately begins to bounce around his friend circle to get support for what feels like a monumental life change. He starts with his friends, Julie and Paul, who offer their ears and advice. Carey is immediately drawn in by their unique dynamic, which he describes as 'open'. It appears that the couple shares not only their home but, more shockingly, also each other with other individuals. While initially skeptical, Carey can’t help but feel a little envious of their apparent carefree attitude towards relationships. As he delves deeper into their nonconventional arrangement, Carey's curiosity slowly turns into fascination. He starts to feel an urge to experience the world as Julie and Paul do, and he finds himself considering the possibility of opening his own marriage to Ashley. This idea is met with a mixture of confusion and concern by his friends, as they make it clear that their relationship is far more complex than Carey can even begin to grasp. Carey's desire to introduce an open relationship into his marriage is driven by a deep-seated discontent with the current state of his relationship with Ashley. It’s not that he genuinely believes that an open relationship would bring him closer to Ashley; rather, he's convinced that a more permissive arrangement would somehow inject new vitality into their love. Despite his concerns, Carey chooses to take the plunge and proposes that he and Ashley try out an open relationship. This suggestion is initially met with fierce reluctance, and it's clear that Ashley is less than enthused about the idea. As the couple works to navigate this new territory, Carey becomes increasingly consumed by his desire for excitement and novelty. He starts to pursue a string of affairs, not necessarily seeking deeper connections but more as a way to feed his ego and prove to himself that he's a desirable and exciting partner. At the same time, Carey finds himself developing genuine emotional connections with various women that he becomes involved with. This creates an inner conflict, as he starts to question whether his feelings for these women are genuine or merely a product of his desire to spice up his marriage. Julie and Paul, meanwhile, are presented with an opportunity to reflect on the consequences of their own actions. As they watch Carey's marriage teeter on the brink of collapse, they're forced to confront the complexities and challenges of their own polyamorous relationship. Ultimately, the chaos that Carey unleashes on his marriage pushes him to a crossroads. He's forced to confront the reality that his actions have caused irreparable harm to his relationship with Ashley. As he takes a long, hard look at the mess that he’s created, Carey is left with a difficult decision to make: will he choose to recommit to the monogamous relationship he once had, or will he continue down the path of exploring different forms of intimacy? The story of Splitsville serves as a commentary on the human desire for connection and love. It poses questions about the boundaries that define relationships and whether traditional forms of monogamy can ever truly satiate our desires. Through Carey's bumbling attempts to navigate an open relationship, the film delivers a thought-provoking and often humorous exploration of what it takes to truly connect with the people we love.