REVIEW: ‘The Climb’ now available on DVD, Blu-ray, digital
Photo: The Climb stars Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics / Provided by press rep with permission.
The Climb, the new comedy from Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin, is a hilarious examination of a friendship that has more downs than ups, but somehow still perseveres through betrayal after betrayal. Covino directs, co-writes and stars as a character named Mike, while Marvin co-writes and stars as a character named Kyle. By virtue of these assigned roles, it’s fairly obvious that The Climb is a personal passion project for Covino and Marvin, and they likely are good friends in real life.
In the movie, Kyle is gearing up for his wedding, with Mike serving as the best man. The two are seen taking a strenuous bike ride to the top of a mountain, talking about the pending nuptials in between heavy breathing and power-through grunts. All of a sudden, in a hilarious and nonchalant manner, Mike tells Kyle that he slept with his fiancée. The statement is said so matter-of-factly that the audience’s reaction is likely similar to Kyle’s: “Wait, what did you just say?”
What proceeds is a multi-year look at how this betrayal impacts their friendship, or lack thereof. What happens to both men speaks to the karma of their respective roles and their inability to fully separate. Something unidentifable connects the two, and no matter how toxic their friendship becomes — and how many sins are repeated — they still remain a presence in each other’s lives.
As comedic actors, Covino and Marvin are marvelously on point. Their droll line delivery instantly produces chuckles, and the audience enjoys, almost deceptively and guiltily, watching their respective downfalls. They seem to know the exact levers to push, and they also know the exact words to say to make amends. Their bond is so strong and so weird that it’s tough for Marissa (Gayle Rankin) to find space between the duo, and this causes even more consternation because she’s set to marry Kyle. For the betrayed party, she is a second chance, but the audience knows what happened the first time around.
As writers and performers Covino and Marvin should be commended for their comedic risks and easy-going style; they clearly are comfortable working with each other and have wonderful chemistry (or they lack chemistry, and that’s what makes their antics so funny).
The Climb is 94 minutes of comedic entertainment that chops up, dissects and spits out a friendship, all to the satisfaction of an audience that can’t stop laughing.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Climb (2020). Directed by Michael Angelo Covino. Written by Covino and Kyle Marvin. Starring Covino, Marvin and Gayle Rankin. Rated R for language, sexual content, some nudity and brief drug use. Rating: 
