Marital comedy doesn't cut deep

'Splitsville' directors a little too married to their performances in male friendship story.

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MICHAEL ANGELO COVINO, left, Kyle Marvin, Adria Arjona and Dakota Johnson play messy married couples and friends in the movie "Splitsville."

"Splitsville" lands at a moment when every comedy released to theaters feels like a battle cry, an attempt to defend audiences' rights to have a good time at the movies.

Directed by Michael Angelo Covino, who also produces, co-writes and costars alongside Kyle Marvin, the film continues the duo's comic exploration of bad choices, in which men predictably make poor decisions and are depicted as vain, infantile and often motivated by their worst impulses. (It's funny because it's true.)

As the movie begins, Carey (Marvin) is married to Ashley (Adria Arjona), who tells him she has been seeing other people and wants a divorce. He seeks solace from his best friend Paul (Covino) and his wife, Julie (Dakota Johnson), who tell Carey they are in an open relationship. Soon Carey sleeps with Julie and all sorts of jealousies and complicated feelings arise among the four of them.