Sean Parker
I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone with such incredible positive energy and an outgoing spirit quite like GG Hawkins, the director and co-writer of I Really Love My Husband. Meeting Hawkins alongside the film’s star, and second of three co-writers, Madison Lanesey, at the Chattanooga Film Festival was beyond a pleasure. Lanesey had two films in the festival, also appearing in The Misadventures of Vince and Hick. The two have made one hell of a film together, a low-budget movie set in Panama that looks better than many Hollywood releases, while staying true to the independent spirit. It is among the best films I’ve seen all year in the indie space, and you should keep an eye out when it releases later this year.
While we were all talking, someone posed the question of our favorite guilty pleasure films. Without hesitation, I told them Reality Bites. It’s one of my absolute go-tos when I’m in a bad mood, as it delicately deals with the life and relationships of a group of Gen-Xers in a changing corporate economic climate, balancing work, life, and love through youthful and emotionally immature frustrations. I tell you this because I Really Love My Husband contains some thematic similarities, which probably helped the film resonate even more, even if the way it gets there is a far different emotional rollercoaster ride.
I Really Love My Husband begins with Teresa (Lanesey) and Drew (Travis Quentin Young) en route to their postponed honeymoon a year into their marriage. Rather quickly, Teresa begins to feel trapped as her charmingly likable husband endears himself to almost every stranger he encounters, while Teresa starts to feel inadequate, as every little thing Drew does gets on her nerves. When the two reach Panama, they meet Paz (Arta Gee), the non-binary caretaker of their rental, who moves “at the speed of nature,” the way many Islanders do. Teresa finds herself instantly infatuated with Paz’s confident yet laidback style and begins urging Drew to consider an adventurous honeymoon fling for the three of them.
With the idea of a little more sexual openness in their relationship, Drew’s mind begins to wander. Paz’s friend Kiki (Lisa Jaqueline Starrett) draws his eye while Teresa maintains they should pursue Paz, finding disdain and jealousy in the suggestion and for Kiki. This begins an examination of emotions such as passive aggression in trusted spaces and honesty with oneself in relationships, ultimately revealing that you can’t love someone else until you’ve learned to love yourself.
Hawkins has assembled a truly phenomenal cast, who infuse their character performances with authenticity. Lanesey and Gee have few credits under their respective belts, but it’s hard to believe they won’t continue to impress in the future. Lanesey imbues Teresa with a specific determinism, occasionally bridging Teresa’s defenses with side-splitting moments. Though many may feel detached by Teresa’s unlikable decisions, the sun-drenched film is only pushing her to bring her buried feelings into the light. I never found Teresa to be unlikeable, though perhaps judgmental, throughout situations where judgments shouldn’t exist. Meanwhile, Gee brings an unflinchingly relaxed vibe to their role and uses Paz’s skill of feeling out the couple’s energy to add a touch of magical siren-like mysticism.
Young is also incredible. The actor has appeared in multiple short films and minor roles over the last several years, including a notable role as Johnny Ramone in an episode of HBO’s Vinyl and a supporting part in the 2022 indie thriller Who Killed Cooper Dunn? In I Really Love My Husband, Young’s ear-to-ear grinning and charismatic personality help to present the naive, oblivious nature of a trusting husband, but no character in the film is immune from self-examination, which becomes perfectly apparent during the film’s fantastically put-together finale, providing a mature and grown-up resolution that serves I Really Love My Husband’s themes. The finale also informs the film’s cold open, providing an unexpected epiphany for those paying attention.
Like Off Ramp, which played at last year’s Chattanooga Film Festival, I Really Love My Husband was a surprise delight in narrative and technical achievements. Though I mainly cover horror and horror adjacent selections, I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in these characters as their egos begin to get the better of them. Additionally, Hawkins’ direction looks effortless, even though there is a lot more going on in the scenery. A storm forming on the horizon foreshadows the couple’s oncoming trouble in paradise, while filming in the shade and on choppier waters under overcast skies with slightly less vivid coloring mutes scenes just enough to literally and figuratively add another level of atmosphere when contention arises. This use is almost fairy-tale-esque at times, much like how most people want to describe their honeymoons, which leads to a conversation-worthy final shot.
At a festival exploding with horror bangers and genre gold, I Really Love My Husband stood out. I mean, yes, it was only one of maybe two throuple movies I saw, but I don’t know if King Baby counts, given the third in that triangle is a wooden mannequin. I think that only furthers my point, though. To captivate so distinctly at the Chattanooga Film Festival, a festival where one spectacular film follows another, the movie has to be uniquely special. Hawkins’ film captures the drama and complexity of relationships with vibrant humor, masterful cinematography, and insightful reflections about human nature and healing. While its content may not appeal to every audience, those curious enough to take a look may end up finding their own guilty pleasure film.
I Really Love My Husband played Saturday, June 21, as part of the Chattanooga Film Festival. You can catch it this week as the virtual edition of the festival continues. Passes can be purchased on the Chattanooga Film Festival website.
Scene from ‘I Really Love My Husband’ SXSW World Premiere
Uploaded by GG Hawkins on 2025-03-06.
