A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Invite”. (2026, 4.5*, 15).
“The Invite” is the latest film from Olivia Wilde who also stars in this one: a rather uncomfortable farce around a dinner party and social manners that could – in terms of social embarrassment, almost be a modern-day companion piece to the recent “Savage House“. But this is one that I really wanted to see, primarily because of the trailer.
I have sometimes thought that I should start rating trailers as well as the main films (in fact, I have a very vague memory of actually starting to do that some posts, back many years ago!). It’s often amazed me that – as I understand it – whilst directors have ultimate control over the content of their films, they seem to cede that control to a bunch of numpties in the studio’s marketing department when it comes to putting the trailer together.
For the majority of trailers I find to be poor, with a good 10% being truly dreadful: either revealing key moments from the finale of the film or, in some cases, so completely explaining the plot that it is hardly worth going to see the film. (“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” being a notable case in point.)
But, just once in a while, there is a trailer that is well-crafted and contains such a ‘hook’ that it makes you want to see the film. So far in 2026, “The Drama” wins my prize for the best trailer of the year so far (“WHAT DID ZENDAYA DO????”). But the trailer for “The Invite” is currently in my silver medal position. Things are seriously hinted at, but never confirmed. And the line “Just to be clear. You, you, her and me…. me too?”, with the actors names displayed on each beat, is simply toe-curlingly brilliant!
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Joe (Seth Rogan) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) have a marriage that is heading for, if not already on, the rocks. Everything tends to spark an argument between the associate college professor and his highly-strung wife. Case in point, Joe arrives home to find that Angela has invited the exotic couple from upstairs – Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) – to dinner. This is the couple that keep them awake each night with their vigorous and noisy sex. What could possibly go wrong?
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Very strong language, strong sex references, drug misuse.”)
Talent:
Starring: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton.
Directed by: Olivia Wilde.
Written by: Will McCormack & Rashida Jones. (Based on the screenplay for the Spanish film “Sentimental” – aka “The People Upstairs” by Cesc Gay).
Running Time: 1h 47m.
Review:
Positives:
- Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, Seth Rogan (even Seth Rogan!) Acting royalty and the perfect cast for this talky and wonderfully creative single-set comedy/drama. I kept thinking throughout the film, which of these actors deserved an Academy Award nomination and then decided – fuck it, just stick them all in the list! I know, in reality, the Academy often overlook comedies in favour of meatier fare, but the performances really are great. Top of the pile for me though is Olivia Wilde, who just excels as Angela – the twitchy, Xanax-taking bag of nervous energy. Her facial expressions as she navigates the sharp rocks of social embarrassment are simply sublime. The way in which she starts to casually flirt with fireman – sorry, firefighter – Hawk is exquisitely done.
- The script, co-written by “Parks and Recreation” alumnus Rashida Jones, is laden with comedy gold. It’s the sort of script that reminded me of Woody Allen… in the best of ways. But perhaps even more comedy is derived from many of the improvisations that the cast did. I listened to the interview with Olivia Wilde and Edward Norton on the Kermode and Mayo ‘Take’ podcast. Norton confirmed that in many of the takes they had a start point, a rough end point and some beats they needed to hit but then much of the scene was spit-balling dialogue that felt right for the characters. And that really shows. There are some ad libs that are made, particularly I think from Seth Rogan, exposing his stand-up roots, that are not only funny for the content but are funny for the surprised reactions that they provoke. One in particular that I found hilarious was when Piña (Penélope Cruz) described how they has started “moving into anal” and Rogan’s Joe chips in “moving gently into anal”. You can see Olivia Wilde react and manage to turn a guffaw into one of her priceless looks of outrage! According to Wilde, the paint gag (“Is he colour blind?”) was also an improv, based on indecision in the production design that they just left in because it was funny. Bottom line: this film smashed the 6-laughs test for a comedy for me.
- The story also went to somewhere in the final reel that I really didn’t expect. It became both sad and ultimately very moving. I didn’t expect the film to really manage to hit me in both the feels and the funny bone at the same time, but this one achieved it. Bravo!
- Anyone who has watched Olivia Wilde’s previous two directorial outings – “Booksmart” and “Don’t Worry Darling” – will appreciate that the lady has a real flair for quirky camera angles and stylish blocking. Here, that shows in the opening shot of Joe (Seth Rogan) sat alone and contemplative in the middle of a sea of chairs in a theatre setting. He is supposed to be listening to the orchestral performance of his class, but his mind is somewhere else entirely. The shot is a masterclass of “show don’t tell” in establishing Joe’s mental state: a man lost and adrift in his life. Wilde continues this style as we progress to the rest of the film: despite the claustrophobic, single-set environment she continues to serve up really interesting shots and angles with DP Adam Newport-Berra.
- There’s a technical shout-out here that perhaps you wouldn’t have noticed: not that you should have. But the sound design and particularly the sound mixing (attaboy to a guy called Steven Morrow) is absolutely phenomenal. This is a film, again like in a Woody Allen comedy, where characters are constantly talking over each other…. just as happens in real-life during a dinner party. But the sound is done so superbly that you, as the viewer, can manage to hear what each of the characters is saying. What witchcraft is this??! When I get multiple members on my Flickering Dreams podcasts talking at the same time, I often have to mute one or two of the tracks so that I can get an understandable recording!
- There is a great music score by Devonté Hynes and some great needle-drops including a rare, stripped-down 1970 demo of the classic Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song “Our House” with Graham Nash singing in harmony with Joni Mitchell (you can hear her tell-tale laugh at the end!) It’s a really unusual and terrific closing titles song.
Negatives:
- This is an adult comedy with a lot of reference to sex and sexual acts. Prudes and any easily embarrassed teens who said “Hey, Mum, Dad, Gran, why don’t we all go to see this new comedy The Invite together?” might be in for an uncomfortable surprise!
- The film is based on a Spanish film – which seems to be either called “Sentimental” or “The People Upstairs”, depending on where you look – which is in itself based on a stage play. As such, all but 3 minutes of the action is contained within the single location of Angela and Joe’s flat and it is very talky-talky. I know some viewers really don’t care for that sort of film, so if that is you then this one might not be for you.
- Just a couple of things in the script didn’t ring true with me, especially after the action becomes more sexually orientated. As this will be spoiler territory, I will save mention until a Spoiler Section below the trailer.
A Broken Record!
I’m afraid this film holds a special place for me. NEVER have I EVER walked out of a film at the cinema before. But after about an hour of this film, just when things were getting a bit spicy, my body rebelled with a sudden and violent bout of gastroenteritis and a quick dash to the Everyman toilet, resulting in a most messy episode of the vomit variety! So violent in fact (blood was involved) that I had to make my way to East Surrey hospital where 6 hours of CT scans; saline drips and anal probes ensued!! (I LOVE the NHS – they are simply wonderful! Under-resourced, but wonderful human beings.)
I did get to rewatch The Invite in full, four days later.
Can I use this post to apologise to the staff of Everyman Oxted for redecorating their Screen 2 toilet somewhat. If I need to contribute to any cleaning products, please let me know!
Summary Thoughts:
In a movie landscape where good comedies are rare beasts, this one is one of the best of the year so far and I thoroughly enjoyed it. (Well, without the violent stomach emptying, you understand!) Brilliantly acted, brilliantly scripted, brilliantly directed, there was very little not to love.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The brilliant trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YIHRhRMn94. Interestingly, the non-UK trailer seems to be through A24 and a quick google search reveals that A24 did win the US distribution rights at the Sundance Film Festival. So there’s an interesting distribution story between A24 and Black Bear somewhere there!
Spoiler Section:
Don’t read past this point if you’ve not seen the movie.
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NO, SERIOUSLY!
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AND THIS SECTION HAS SOME EXPLICIT CONTENT
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CONSIDER YOURSELF SUITABLY WARNED!
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Sex Aspects that didn’t ring true:
As I mentioned, when we get into the sex party discussion (not that I’m a swinging expert or practitioner, you understand… or am I??) there were just a few references in the script that didn’t ring true for me.
- At one point Piña (Penélope Cruz) is quizzing Angela (Olivia Cooke) about whether she “has sex with herself”. (Joe (Seth Rogan) chips in that he “has sex with himself all the time… I’m the only person I have sex with!”). Angela stays silent and shakes her head. Which seemed bizarre and out of character for someone who – at the mention of sex parties, immediately starts spouting items off the menu including anal and DP and who is obviously so sexually frustrated. If she hadn’t had sex in over a year she would surely be masturbating all the time wouldn’t she?
- And from Joe’s point of view:
- you haven’t had sex in over a year;
- Penelope Cruz (PENELOPE FUCKING CRUZ!) wants to have sex with you;
- she takes you into your office alone, to have sex with you
- and…. what do you do?
- I’ll tell you what you don’t do: you don’t stand there, with all your clothes still on, looking a bit gormless and not taking any action whatsoever! At least Angela and Hawk got the memo in the kitchen, even if it was a case of cunnilingus-interruptus!
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