The Invite
A hilarious and razor-sharp relationship and sex comedy about a couple (Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde) who have grown tired of each other and organise a dinner party for their eccentric upstairs neighbours (Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz).
San Franciscan married couple Joe and Angela are two tightly wound individuals who seem to be at odds over almost everything. When Angela invites their attractive, free-spirited upstairs neighbours over for dinner, the evening feels primed to combust. Where Angela is intrigued by the pair, Joe is irritated by the constant noise that travels from their bedroom above. The stage is set for a night of sizzling small talk, unearthed insecurities, loaded sarcastic remarks and a serious dose of sexual tension.
The Invite is a masterful dissection of modern relationships. As director, Wilde (Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling) brings emotional depth and a comedic edge to the material, finding something recognisable and painfully true beneath the film’s escalating chaos. Her process – workshopping scenes with the cast, shooting chronologically, and allowing room for exploration on set – gives the film a lived-in, volatile authenticity that lifts it beyond the familiar contours of the relationship drama.