The Invite – the sparkling new film directed by Olivia Wilde – starts with a quote from the florid wit of Oscar Wilde: “One should always be in love… that is the reason one should never marry.” Well, quite. A four-hander, nearly all set in the apartment belonging to music teacher Joe (Seth Rogen) and his wife Angela (Wilde), it’s a shrewd, savage and frequently hilarious take on coupledom, so wincingly accurate it’s hard not to see yourself up on screen.
Adapted from the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, it’s scripted by actress Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who previously co-wrote Celeste and Jesse Forever, the 2012 romcom in which they starred. In this case, the ‘people upstairs’ are not-yet-married couple Pína (Penélope Cruz), a sex therapist, and Hawk (Edward Norton), a former firefighter with a New Age-y vibe, who says things like “I like how honest you are about how you’re feeling.”
When Joe gets home from work, much to his chagrin, he discovers that Angela has invited their upstairs neighbours over for the evening. For the past months, they’ve been disturbed by noise from Pína and Hawk’s vigorous sex, floating down through the ceiling. Angela, in particular, is fascinated by Pína’s long and loud orgasms. On the pretence that, after some restoration work, they wanted to invite the couple over to view their finished flat, they’re about to socialise for the first time.
What follows is a cringeworthy evening that soon escalates into martial meltdown. For starters, there’s no wine. Angela hastily arranged the get-together, then blames Joe for not responding to her text to bring booze (in his defence, he was cycling home at the time on a terrible-looking foldaway bike that’s aggravated his back). It’s the sort of micro-aggression moment that is typical of their marriage. They have a 12-year-old daughter – whose away for the night – and you soon suspect it’s the only thing keeping them together.
As for Pína and Hawk, they’re seemingly the perfect couple – virile, sexy, open. They’re also super annoying, frequently speaking in Spanish to each other, and unafraid to spill some home truths. Like the moment they arrive, hearing Joe and Angela arguing behind closed doors. Us Brits would be far too reserved to say anything, but not “no filter” Hawk, who soon asks if this is a good time for their arrival – because he heard the fight. Who says that?
Wilde, in her third directorial outing after the snappy teen comedy Booksmart (2019) and the controversy-riddled Don’t Worry Darling (2022) – who can forget Spitgate? – dedicates the film to “Diane”, a nod to the late, great Diane Keaton. And there’s something about The Invite that recalls prime Woody Allen, when he and Keaton thrived together on-screen.
Truth be told, this is a wonderfully written piece, with Wilde marshalling the performances with great skill in a contained setting. With all four actors at the top of their game – Rogen even holds back on that frequent Muppet-like chuckle of his – this is that rare thing. An adult movie, that will make you think, laugh and relate. It’s a dynamite date movie, ready to explode in your face.
Details
- Director: Olivia Wilde
- Starring: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz
- Release date: July 3 (in UK cinemas)