There’s not necessarily anything wrong with being able to see the end of something from a long way off in cinema. If that’s the case, you’ve got to hope the journey to getting there is worthwhile at least. Unfortunately, that is not the case with I Really Love My Husband.

Written by G. G. Hawkins, who also directs, alongside Madison Lanesey and Scott Monahan, the film follows Teresa, played by Lanesey, and Drew, played by Travis Quentin Young, a young couple embarking on a delayed honeymoon one year after getting married. They travel to the paradise of Bocas del Toro in Panamá, though the weather never shines too brightly, both literally and figuratively.

It is evident early on that things are not ok between Teresa and Drew. Teresa is invested in presenting herself as though she is living her best life. Between keto bars, a spur of the moment decision to try intermittent fasting, faux self development, and documenting her life like a wannabe influencer, she represents a certain modern idea of what it means to be evolved and well adjusted.

However, this soon feels less like growth and more like performance. It reads as a carefully maintained surface that masks noticeable gaps in her sense of self and her relationship with Drew. This is never more evident than in moments when Teresa tells others that she loves her husband, statements that feel more like self reassurance than conviction.

Drew, by contrast, is positioned as the golden boy. He is charming, warm, and outwardly considerate, qualities that appear to irritate Teresa almost instantly. It seems surprising they have made it a year into marriage, let alone reached the altar at all, and the film never fully explores why they have remained together for so long given the clear disconnect between them.

After arriving at their holiday home, they meet Paz, played by Arta Gee, the non binary caretaker of the property, whose calm presence immediately shifts the dynamic. Teresa quickly proposes seducing Paz as a way to reignite their relationship. By this point, it is clear this is less a solution and more a distraction. Teresa even suggests that Drew and Paz should have time alone together later, insisting she would be comfortable with it. Predictably, she is not.

Alongside Paz, the couple also encounter Kiki, played by Lisa Jacqueline Starrett, a former reality television star turned island resident. Through these interactions, Teresa and Drew are forced to confront whether their relationship offers genuine happiness or simply the comfort of familiarity.

By the time decisions are finally made, the trajectory feels largely foreseeable from the opening moments. The emotional markers are easy to read, and little arrives as a surprise.

The film is effective in outlining Teresa’s flaws, but it offers few moments that invite emotional connection with her. This creates an immediate distance between her and the audience. Drew, meanwhile, comes across as more grounded and self aware, which makes it frustrating to watch him absorb so much of Teresa’s anxiety and insecurity without meaningful challenge. Neither character feels fully three dimensional, making it difficult to invest deeply in their outcome.

I Really Love My Husband does not aim to reinvent the relationship drama, and it does not need to. Simplicity is not the issue. The problem is that the film offers little lightness or variation to counter its predictability. Even the cinematography feels subdued, a curious choice given the richness of the setting.

Where the film does succeed is in its non judgemental approach to sexual fluidity and identity. These elements are handled with openness and care. Still, because so much of Teresa’s self presentation feels performative, there is a lingering sense that her exploration of fluidity may be an attempt to appear more progressive than she is able to fully embody.

Credits

Cast
Teresa, Madison Lanesey
Drew, Travis Quentin Young
Paz, Arta Gee
Kiki, Lisa Jacqueline Starrett

Crew
Written and directed by GG Hawkins
Produced by Elle Roth Brunet
Co producers Natalie LeVeck, Maria Laura Ventura
Director of photography Ryan Thomas
Production designer Jessie Chaffin
Editor Christina O’Sullivan
Music by Hollie Buhagiar
Sound edit and design K.C. Conway
Casting director Emma Fleming, ACE
Costume designer Alabama Blonde

Executive producers
Janek Ambros
Diane Brunet
Andrea Kent
Peter Kent

Consulting executive producer
Madison Lanesey

Co executive producers
Tommy Cornelius
Stanley Monroe
Raven Angeline Whisnant
Kelli A White

Story by
GG Hawkins, Madison Lanesey, Scott Monahan

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