In his The Invite movie review, Kevin Bourne calls the film an “entertaining therapy session that will make you laugh, smile, and think.”
An award-winning all-star ensemble cast? Check. An all-star writing trio? Check. An award-winning director? Check.
On paper, The Invite has the all the ingredients for an exceptionally made and highly enjoyable film. In practice and execution, it Is exactly that.
Set in San Francisco, The Invite follows husband and wife, Joe (Seth Rogan) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), whose life and marriage are turned upside down when their unconventional upstairs neighbors, Piña (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), come over for a dinner date.
Primarily set in one location, Joe and Angela’s apartment, for its 1:47 runtime (minus a brief five minute intro), The Invite is a feat in filmmaking from Wilde who pulled double duty as actor and director.
She previously received critical acclaim for her 2019 directorial debut Boomsmart, winning the 2020 the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. The Invite sees her return to form after critics completely decimated her 2022 film Don’t Worry Darling.
The way she was able to tell such a visual engaging film in such a small space needs to be studied. The angles and camera movements are crips and clean and help to make what could’ve been a boring film a more dynamic and appealing one. Films set in one location are sometimes plagued with slow and awkward moments, and dialogue that runs too long. Not so with this film, which is also a credit to writers Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, and Cesc Gay who have written an award-worthy screenplay. The film had audiences laughing from beginning to end as they tell a highly entertaining story, full of sex, comedy, and intrigue wrapped in everyday life.
The story is brought to life by equally entertaining performances. I mean, what else would you expect from award winners like Seth Rogan, Olivia Wilde, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton? Not only do they provide a balance of drama and comedy, but the dynamic between the couples and the group on a whole is so realistic and believable. Between the story and performances, this is a film that audiences can easily get lost in.
The film also does a good job of using the score to keep viewers engaged during this single location film. Very apropos as music plays a supporting role in the story. The music is noticeable, but not in a way that overpowers the film as it adds to the comedy and the characters’ movement through the small space.
But what makes this film even more special is that it finds a way to touch some very real relationship issues that grown folks, especially those who are married, in committed relationships, or on the door step of those milestones, can relate to. It asks the question, “What do you do when your life didn’t pan out as you thought?” and leaves a lot for the viewer to unpack. It’s basically an entertaining therapy session that will make you laugh, smile, and think.
If you’re a fan of good old filmmaking and storytelling, that’s funny, sexy, and entertaining, yet rooted in everyday life, this is not a film to miss.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s editor-in-chief and Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter focusing on film & TV, music, and fashion. He was named one of 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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