‘The Invite’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

The Invite is an intimate, razor-sharp comedy-drama directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, centring on a fraught couples’ dinner party that spirals into delightfully uncomfortable territory. A film about a couple on the precipice of a new chapter for better or worse, it could serve as a welcome conversation-starter or an incredibly awkward date night movie. When a married pair plagued by years of simmering resentment and unresolved friction invite their seemingly harmonious upstairs neighbours over for an evening of cheese and charcuterie, the gathering quickly strips away the appearance of domestic bliss.

What begins as petty squabbling over dinner preparations and desperate attempts to keep up appearances soon gives way to an awkward psychological sparring match between Joe and Angela. Working in opposite directions to impress and deter their guests, Hawk and Piña, the bickering couple cool their jets long enough to entertain their slinky invitees.

Confined almost exclusively to a single, beautifully decorated apartment, the narrative carries the focused intensity of a chamber stage play in line with films like Carnage. Wilde ensures the production never feels static, cleverly employing mirror reflections and fluid camera dynamics to keep the visual storytelling engaging throughout the expansive domestic space. The soundtrack also deserves a special mention, escalating tension and then switching back to comedy with some dexterity.

Seth Rogen delivers a grounded performance as a reluctant co-host – a world-weary man nursing chronic back pain and abandoned dreams, possessing no filter and an eagerness to tell it like it is. Wilde plays his high-strung house-proud wife, meticulously curating their interior aesthetic and micromanaging the evening to mask the cracks in their relationship. While Rogen and Wilde may seem like an unusual pairing on paper, their sharp comic timing and natural friction make them a surprisingly believable, entertaining double act.

Entering the fray are Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz as the enigmatic upstairs neighbours. Radiating an eccentric, almost bohemian chemistry, their characters have embraced an unconventional approach to intimacy and modern romance. As their uninhibited lifestyle and secretive exploits are revealed over the course of the night, the dinner table dynamic oscillates between cringeworthy tension and laugh-out-loud absurdity.

“So, I suppose you’re wondering why we invited you down here?”

Framed by the opening Oscar Wilde quote, “One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry”, the script is steeped in sharp dialogue, heaps of subtext and a healthy dose of cynicism. While the quickfire dialogue and awkward scenario ventures into increasingly risqué, edgy and raunchy territory, Wilde deftly keeps the piece on the rails, balancing barbed prickly comedy with genuine dramatic stakes.

A late narrative twist refuses to spoon-feed viewers, leaving just enough ambiguity for audiences to interpret the fallout before concluding on a surprisingly optimistic note. It’s a big swing but for the most part it works – bringing things in to land on a poignant note. Compelled by committed performances from its stellar quartet, The Invite executes an entertaining balancing act between biting relationship drama and boundary-pushing comedy. Viewers open to a slightly wilder, candid ride will find plenty of wit, polish and spark to savour while others may find the social situation almost unbearable.

The bottom line: Prickly