The Invite is the latest film by Olivia Wilde, which she directed and starred, and has Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz in the mix.
The story follows a deeply unhappy, long-married couple, Joe and Angela, whose marriage is on thin ice. Frustrated by their sexless relationship, they impulsively invite their passionate and enigmatic upstairs neighbors, Hawk and Pina, to dinner. And, the night goes in different and unexpected directions.
Is Olivia Wilde‘s Best Works To Date
Olivia Wilde is a complex director that eventually she directs something masterful like Booksmart or tries something different with Don‘t You Worry Darling, but with The Invite is a return to form for Wilde, and also gives a masterclass in acting.
The Invite is a comedy-drama film, where you expect a lot of the characters going into different situations, but they ended up in the most unexpected one. Wilde directs with care, precision and honesty that feels humble behind the camera and the shots used were incredible.
This is a single location film, and while that could bore the audience. Wilde moves the camera and puts the characters in certain spaces that feels grounded and interesting during the entire running time.
The Performances
Olivia Wilde plays Angela, she is a middle-aged woman, who is looking for adventure and while his marriage is on the brink of collapse, his husband is unaware of how she feels. Angela is looking for something spicy, something to revive the spark, she wants to feel desired, while Seth Rogen plays the husband Joe, who is aware of his weight, he feels miserable, he feels that everyone and everything is going against him.
Enter the frame, Penelope Cruz as Pina, a enigmatic lady that at first appears to be very strange, but while the story progresses, you understand her intentions. Edward Norton also gives a great performance as Hawk.
Every actor is giving his talent into the screen and it shows, their chemistry is palpable and the way they deliver their lines, and jokes are sincere.
It‘s One Of The Best Films Of The Year
This movie should be watch in theaters with a full audience, it‘s funny, engaging, emotional at times. It has something relatable about relationships, and how we need to accept to move on if something doesn‘t work out.
Olivia Wilde knows what type of audience is aiming for, because for the first seconds.. the movie establishes the anger and despair of Joe, the desire of Angela and how their relationship lead to this. It‘s honestly a remarkable script that knows how to play out the story without feeling something strange.
Final Thoughts
The Invite is a remarkable film that invites the audience to feel, to laugh, to re-think your relationships and how to move forward.
Opens in theaters this Thursday.
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