Four years after her acclaimed debut 'Booksmart,' Olivia Wilde returns to directing with 'The Invite,' a four-hander set over one evening where two neighboring couples share dinner. The film marks a comeback from the tumultuous experience of 'Don't Worry Darling,' which was overshadowed by off-screen drama and received mixed reviews.
A Claustrophobic Setting
The entire 107-minute runtime takes place in the apartment of Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Rogen), creating an appropriately tense atmosphere. The script, adapted from the Spanish play and film 'Sentimental' by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, follows the dinner party's progression from a straightforward couple-off into something more absurd yet plausible.
Wilde's character pads around in socks, embodying onomatopoeic anxiety, while Rogen delivers constant, hilarious complaints. Their guests, Piña and Hawk (Cruz and Norton), are the opposite: relaxed, alluring, and uncomfortably open.
The Ending Redefines Happy Endings
What makes 'The Invite' truly great is its ending, which reframes the happily ever after trope beautifully. Cruz delivers a masterclass monologue that forces audiences into serious soul-searching. When she speaks of children of unhappy couples 'marinating in anxiety,' the line hits like a bullet.
Cruz is the flickering flame of the film, with her Spanishness hammed up for effect, her sexuality oozing, and her comic timing excellent. Watching her and Rogen unexpectedly hit it off is a real treat. Norton provides the perfect balm to Wilde's mania.
Score and Atmosphere
The film is tied together with a lovely score by Devonté Hynes of Blood Orange, creating a dream dinner party soundtrack for a decidedly undreamy evening. Despite the tension, critics note the film leaves audiences wanting to be invited back.
