Our Review

                   Movie: THE INVITE

      Rating: R, sexual material, language                             throughout, and drug use

                           Length: 1:47

               Release Date: JULY 10, 2026

JEANNE: One couple is on the brink of marital collapse, while the other couple --- who isn’t married --- is enjoying a great deal of very loud sex. They are neighbors --- Angela (Olivia Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen) live in an historic San Francisco building and Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) reside above them. THE INVITE, directed by Wilde, is a comedy/drama written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones.

 

Joe and Angela are the married couple, whose daughter is thankfully away at a sleepover when Angela invites Piña and Hawk down for dinner --- of sorts. Angela has spent the day procuring cheeses and jamón, Spanish ham --- which turns out is really prosciutto --- one of the first mistakes of this “fun-filled” evening. She has also purchased a new rug for the living room --- and a new blouse. In addition, she has made a soufflé for dessert.

 

After a day teaching music to uninterested students, Joe bikes through the hilly streets of San Francisco only to reach home frustrated and exhausted. He didn’t read Angela’s text to stop and buy wine --- and he’s definitely not happy to learn that Angela has asked the upstairs neighbors to join them for the evening. He begs Angela to cancel --- she will not.

 

When Piña and Hawk arrive --- with Piña’s homemade flan --- Angela and Joe quickly learn that Piña doesn’t eat meat, cheese --- or gluten. Angela is horrified that she has nothing for Piña to eat, and instead of further embarrassment, she dumps her soufflé into the trash. Because there is no wine, Joe is forced to open a very special bottle, a gift from his deceased uncle, which they were saving for a special occasion.

 

As the evening progresses, Joe is chomping at the bit to complain to Piña and Hawk about their boisterous sex. But before he is able --- because Angela is stuffing flan into his mouth --- they usurp him by apologizing --- and explaining. They like to have sex --- a lot of sex --- especially with others.

 

Their apartment is much smaller than Angela’s and Joe’s, so depending on the size of the group, sometimes they move their activities into the living room, thus keeping Angela and Joe up at night --- almost every night. And their intention for accepting Angela’s invitation, other than wanting to see the renovations they’ve made, is to invite Angela and Joe to join them.

McCormack and Jones’ screenplay is adapted from the award-winning Spanish film, SENTIMENTAL (2021), by writer/director Cesc Gay, from his own 2016 play, Los Vecinos De Arriba. The writing is whip smart with a biting humor that may not be to everyone’s liking. Admittedly, I only laughed a few times, perhaps because so much of the material regarding Angela and Joe hit too close to home --- David!

 

But there is no denying the superb acting. These four thespians brought their A game --- and each of the performances is astounding. Wilde is particularly vulnerable as Angela, who so desperately wants to make a good impression for their possible new friends. Rogen is at his best when his character is annoying --- and Joe is clearly a pain in the ass. He makes no effort to be welcoming until he learns that possible sex with Piña is on the table.

 

I have long been a real fan of Norton’s, and he plays Hawk (not his real name) with a believable sincerity. His monologue about his deceased wife --- and how he got his nickname --- is truly moving. Of course, Cruz can do no wrong. Piña is a therapist and sexologist --- and she’s a hoot. The scene with her and Rogen in his office smoking a joint and getting ready to have sex is pretty darn funny.

 

As I have already mentioned, THE INVITE may not appeal to the masses, but for those cinephiles who appreciate adult themes showcased with humor and drama, make sure you see Wilde’s film. This is her third feature film --- and it’s very entertaining.

 

                   In select theaters June 26th

                     Opening wide July 10th

 

Opinion: SEE IT NOW!

DAVID: Many of us live in multi-unit apartment buildings, and while we are probably friendly to our neighbors, how well do we really know them? Third-time director Oliva Wilde has helmed a provocative film that clearly will provoke some thought about that question.

 

THE INVITE  is based on the 2021 Spanish movie SENTIMENTAL (released as THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS), which itself was based on a 2016 Spanish play. The “action” takes place in San Francisco primarily on a set designed for the cast to perform in a variety of rooms and lighting. Often when a story is told in a confined space, it can feel claustrophobic. But with the precise script, by writing team Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, together with an exceptional cast of veteran actors, time moves quickly as we wonder how things will progress.

 

Wilde garnered the talents of Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton to fill the roles of Joe, Piña and Hawk respectively. But as Wilde discussed potential actors to play Angela, the already committed cast strongly urged her to play that part herself. And so she does.

 

Angela and Joe are having a rough time in their marriage, arguing vociferously about inconsequential stuff. When Joe returns from his job as a music teacher, he espies their dining room table full of cheeses, meats and assorted munchies. She has invited the upstairs neighbors for a long-awaited get together, but failed to let Joe know, according to him, which sets off another verbal battle.

 

He wants to cancel, she says no way, and their neighbors show up as expected. Piña and Hawk --- she’s a therapist, he’s a fireman, er, make that a "fire fighter”, a running joke --- have not been quiet, unassuming tenants in the building. Rather, their frequent sexual activity has been loud, sometimes in the wee hours, and especially irritating to Joe. Of course, he threatens to discuss this matter at some point in the evening, even as Angela warns him not to. Thus the table is set --- for exactly what we’re not sure. As the small talk morphs into more serious subjects, the conversation becomes more intense --- and more intriguing --- with each disclosure by Piña and Hawk.

As viewers, we get hints about where this is headed. McCormack and Jones’ screenplay is filled with innuendo and we eagerly anticipate how the actors will bring things to fruition. If Piña and Hawk are truly swingers, will that extend to Angela and Joe? And if that invitation is offered, how will the squabbling couple respond? This quartet commands attention every time one of them utters a word. And in her dual role as director, Wilde provides timely and relevant closeups of each actor’s face.

 

THE INVITE  is an adult movie with a marvelous cast which makes every scene feel real and credible. Filled with humor and poignant moments, there might even be a lesson in all of this. For its tagline, THE INVITE adopts a quote from Oscar Wilde (no relation) that is provocative in itself: “One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.”

 

               In select theaters June 26th

                    Opening wide July 10th

 

Opinion: SEE IT NOW!