The Invite Review
A masterclass in pacing, performance, script and tension. This is equal parts cringey, hilarious, sexy and devastating.
Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are a couple on the rocks, with their relationship dying a slow death. When Angela invites the upstairs neighbours over for an impromptu dinner, Joe is furious - particularly because he has issues with the noise they make. But when Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) come down, the four not only begin to iron out their differences - they find themselves in a situation that causes all of them to question what they want from their relationships, and what they are willing to do for it.
Olivia Wilde handles this material remarkably well. It’s a perfectly balanced film - from the pacing and the themes, to the mix of composed to natural shots. Wilde builds a film that feels utterly engrossing from minute 1, that never overextends its welcome, but draws you in with each passing minute.
On top of that, she gives a stellar performance as one of the four leads. That being said, she’s ably matched by the rest of the cast, who are all played to perfection. Norton is wonderfully chill and up for anything, Cruz oozing sex appeal and a fiery, free personality, and Rogen playing somewhat dramatic but layering perfectly his trademark humour when he needs to. It’s a wonderful display of nuance that is supported by a script filled with wonderful interplays, moments of pathos, and beautiful barbs.
All of this is overlaid with beautiful staging, cinematography and set design that makes this movie as much a joy to look at, as it is to experience.
In the end, The Invite is the sort of film that really shows what filmmaking can be; the perfect meld of dialogue, performance, music, cinematography and direction. Like amazing European movies like Perfect Strangers, The Invite doesn’t seek to beat you over the head with scale or scope; instead, it reaches deep inside you, and affects you deeply. A wonderful film, and a sure Oscar contender.
