The Invite
Rating: 4.5/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
After Don't Worry Darling, Olivia Wilde needed a hit for her next directorial effort. Booksmart was such a fantastic introduction to her as a filmmaker, but the Harry Styles and Florence Pugh-led film she did next simply didn't hit the mark compared to her debut, hindered by on-set drama, an overly-complicated plot, and performances that didn't really fit. However with her third film, titled The Invite and set primarily in one location, it seems like she was going to attempt a more low-budget, indie-style film rather than a huge motion picture. Starring Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penélope Cruz, this hilarious, thought-provoking film took everything great about her previous two films and combined them together to craft a fantastic movie that will make you laugh and feel depressed at the same time.
The film follows Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Rogen), a couple whose relationship is on the rocks after constant bickering and a lack of communication between the two. When Angela invites their neighbors over (Norton, Cruz) against Joe's wishes, they have to put on a united front to hopefully make friends that live in their apartment complex. However, with every turn, there is a new surprise waiting the four of them, making this perhaps the dinner night from hell.
There is no doubt that this movie is incredibly funny. The script, which is penned by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, moves at such a quick pace and includes so many great comedic lines and gags. Jones and McCormack do a wonderful job of crafting this script to make the entire film feel like incredibly stressful, yet funny at the same time. Even though we, as the audience, are stressed out the entire movie and on the edge of our seats, we are also having a lot of fun with this fantastic four-actor ensemble. It's a testament to Wilde as a filmmaker because she is able to translate this screenplay to the screen in her own artistic vision, and I genuinely adore the filmmaking style and techniques she incorporates here. From the opening credits montage that without a doubt takes inspiration from the opening credits from Mean Streets to the way she works with her cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, Wilde does a wonderful job showcasing how she saw this script when she read it and allows the viewer to see her vision.
At the same time, the story features such thematic material that makes viewers reflect on their own relationships and how they view romance and love. This film is centered around Joe and Angela's failing marriage, and with the inclusion of their guests Pína and Hawk, they are able to reflect on why their marriage is failing and how this dinner party has made them understand how they are completely different people now. The movie is so rich in the context of trying to understand relationships and your partners, and I think Wilde does a brilliant job of balancing the comedy with the more dramatic moments throughout this film. The only thing I would say against this film is that it does feel a little too long at times; some scenes feel like they overstayed their welcome. There are certain scenes when Wilde would make her point about the relationship or what is going on that night, but then continue to allow the scene to continue. I think the film could have really benefitted from being around 10 minutes shorter.
However, the actors do a terrific job of really embodying these characters. Every single one of them have impeccable comedic timing and truly understand how to do comedy. Rogen and Wilde have amazing on-screen chemistry, and I absolutely adored how they crafted their intense fight sequences and I love their little mannerisms they adopted to show their characters dealing with one another. At the same time, I was shocked by how good Norton was in this role. I have truly only really seen him in serious roles, and to see him really let go and let his comedy side show here, I thought he was perhaps the best actor in this film. I loved every single scene with him, and he never failed to crack me up when he needed to. I also want to credit Cruz with her stellar performance as she was able to find this beautiful balance between being hilarious and also having some striking dramatic moments.
I also just want to comment on the stunning score from Devonté Hynes. Hynes crafts the music for this film to make it so gripping and anxiety-induing, such as the scene where Joe and Angela fight before their neighbors come over for dinner. I think the score adds so much to all of the scenes in this movie, and I think the tension could possibly have been lost if we didn't have his wonderful score. Music always adds so much to a film, and this movie is a perfect example of that. What could have been seen as a normal argument feels so much more elevated and important due to the music that is driving this stressful situation to the audience.
This film definitely redeemed Wilde as a filmmaker for me, and I think she delivers such a dramatically striking and hilarious film. With one location and only four actors, Wilde was able to capture such a dramatic story that is also absolutely hilarious, perhaps making one of the smartest comedies of the year. I think there is a lot here for anyone to enjoy, and I think the performances here will be talked about and studied for a long time.
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