The Invite

 

Score:  A-/B+

Directed by Olivia Wilde

Starring Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton

Running time: 107 minutes

Rated R

Long Story Short:  The Invite is an intriguing relationship dramedy that features excellent writing and acting, providing desperately needed adult entertainment at the theater.  Rogen and Wilde are outstanding in the lead roles as a couple who snipe bitterly but hilariously.  It takes the outlandish lives of neighbors played by Cruz and Norton to bring out hard truths.  Not a life-changing event, but for what it is, this is one of the strongest quality movies in recent years I've seen. Highly recommended.

The Invite is a very well-made and entertaining dramedy of the kind that just doesn't come to theaters much anymore, making for an ideal outing for adults.  The movie reminds me of last year's The Roses in that both are comedic dramas that lean to the dark and/or raunchy side and feature a couple whose relationship is on the ropes; coincidentally, both are remakes of European movies (I haven't seen either of the originals).  The Roses is a more sprawling story with a span of at least a year, while The Invite is super focused into just a few hours.  In fact, other than the first two or three minutes, it takes place entirely within the main couple's, Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Rogen), apartment.  This setting results in a more naturalistic feel than what you get in a typical rom-com, and is even more dialogue-based than similar movies.  Fortunately, the writing is excellent and so the relationship and conflict feel quite believable and the movie itself flows nicely, with only a brief lull here and there.  While this set up might seem a little too organic and realistic (i.e., boring), The Invite has enough spice to go with the strong fundamentals.  Rogen, especially at the beginning, is quite Rogen-like in the exasperated humor of his (seemingly) put-upon teacher.  And the couple they invite for a dinner party, played by Cruz and Norton, are quirky to say the least, though still believable (if far less "normal" than Angela and Joe).  They reveal a secret during the party that is almost too silly to believe, and the reactions of "normal" Angela and Joe are both hilarious and very understandable, driving much of the second half of the movie.  Additionally, the score is mostly pretty subtle but gets louder and overt (humorously) during the height of arguments and other drama.

The acting in this movie is very much under a microscope, since what they say and do is pretty much all there is - fortunately, all four actors are on top of their game.  Rogen is particularly impressive, to me, showing more range and nuance than I've seen from him before.  He carries some of his usual charm, but allows the character to be more defined by aggrievement and uses his humor as a defense mechanism.  Wilde is also excellent; she is less familiar to me, and while early on her character is a bit annoying as an almost cliche image-obsessed modern person, she becomes much more relatable, fully developed, and sympathetic as the movie goes along.  My sympathies reversed dramatically between the beginning and the end of the movie.  Cruz and Norton both get what are probably more enjoyable to act, scenery-chewing roles, the elder sibling/couple who look on Angela and Joe in bemusement because they themselves don't really give a **** about what other people think about them.  While so much of what is in this movie is well done, I must also acknowledge that its ambition is relatively limited.  Which is just fine, not every movie has to be Big or Important.  Just enjoy it for what it is, and it could make for a nice rewatch a few years from now, too.

***

The Invite was a very pleasant little surprise in the middle of the summer season, sort of like Materialists from last year, a change of pace among the big blockbusters.  This is also exactly the kind of movie I would like to see more of in theaters, the sooner the better: not necessarily wildly inventive, but a creative, interesting take on a familiar genre.  And so well executed, particularly the acting and writing.  Gen Z has apparently been leading the charge in the box office surge this year, and it's great that young people are (re)discovering the joys of the theater and communal entertainment experience.  But I'm also frustrated that their favored genre seems to be horror - sigh.  Older adults, who were perhaps scared away from theaters by the pandemic, higher ticket prices, and just the busyness of life, need more reasons to return to the theater, too.  Movies like The Invite are just the ticket, although I don't think this got a very wide release, unfortunately.  Think Field of Dreams in reverse: if we come out to watch the best movies, hopefully they will make even more like them!

* By source, A24 - https://press.a24films.com/films/the-invite, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82885822