Opening with a quote about marriage from Oscar Wilde and ending with a dedication to Diane Keaton, “The Invite” (A24) is the hilarious tearjerker we’ve been waiting for all year. An English-language adaptation of Cesc Gay’s 2020 movie “Sentimental” (based on Gay’s stage play), “The Invite” was directed by Olivia Wilde, who also plays one of the four lead characters, and features a screenplay co-written by Rashida Jones.
Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen in a gutsy performance) are an unhappily married couple living in a newly renovated San Francisco apartment inherited from Joe’s parents (a fact that causes him some embarrassment). They are the parents of 12-year-old Maggie who has been sent to her friend’s house for a sleepover. Joe discovers this when he returns home after work, where he’s an associate professor at a music school (a job he took after being a failed musician). The reason? Angela has invited upstairs neighbors Piña (Penelope Cruz at her comedic best) and Hawk (Edward Norton who manages to be funny and sexy) over for dinner.
Joe is in no mood or condition (his bad back is acting up) for entertaining but the guests are due to arrive at any minute. Joe also has some issues with the neighbors’ loud and active sex life. Shortly after psychotherapist and sexologist Piña and retired firefighter Hawk make their entrance, it’s revealed that the neighbors heard Joe and Angela arguing before they rang the buzzer. Angela tries to pass it off as no big deal, but Joe doesn’t conceal his animosity towards his guests.
As they get better acquainted, the dialogue is snappy and humorous, and everything builds up to the big reveal. Piña and Hawk are swingers and regale Angela and Joe with stories about their sexual exploits, including sex parties, with participants numbering from four to ten. Suddenly, the downstairs neighbors have a better idea about the story behind all the upstairs racket.
But there’s more to this gathering than meets the eye. Hawk and bisexual Piña are interested in including Angela and Joe in their consensual sexual adventures. As Joe, whose expressive facial and vocal reactions to the explicit details, Rogen owns practically every scene. Even more hilarity ensues as joints are smoked, tequila is drunk, and couples pair up. However, the frivolity is short-lived and suddenly the participants are turning on each other instead of turning each other on. Near the end of the evening, one relationship is in tatters while another is shaken, but will likely be fine.
Wilde, who also helmed the decidedly queer and hilarious “Booksmart,” knows her way around a film set, and her directions is top-notch. Mainly a single-set movie, Wilde never makes us feel claustrophobic. Additionally, all four actors deliver stellar performances that deserve to be remembered when Oscar time rolls around.
Rating: A-
