The Invite Review

The Invite is a remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs and acts as Olivia Wilde’s third film as a director.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Wilde) are a couple whose marriage is on the rocks and about to be tested to the limit due to a visit from their upstairs neighbours, Pína (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton).

Wilde made an impression with her directorial debut, Booksmart, but her follow-up film, Don’t Worry Darling, was a mixed bag. Her third film was a smaller-scale affair since it only had four cast members and was set in an apartment. Due to these limitations and the film’s dialogue-driven nature, it felt like a play adapted to the big screen. The gamble has paid off because it was distributed by A24 in the US and Black Bear in the UK, and has been well received by critics.

The Invite was a humorous exploration of awkwardness. The beginning of the film sets up a tense situation where Joe returns home and enters into a verbal fight right off the bat. They bicker in front of guests, leading Pína and Hawk to communicate in Spanish to hide their real thoughts and feelings. They did feel like a couple on the edge of divorce. They were horribly passive-aggressive with each other, which made them uncomfortable to be around.

Adding to the tensions were Joe’s frustrations and resentment. Joe was forced to spend time with the man he hates because Hawk had the audacity to make small talk. Joe was a powder keg ready to go off. He was frustrated about his failed music career, and he wanted to raise the issue of Hawk and Pína’s nightly activities. Angela had to run interference to prevent a fight from breaking out in moments in humorous ways. Joe was an antagonistic, belligerent figure who wasn’t likeable. Angela was no saint because she thrust things on her husband, but she was making an effort with their guests. Pína and Hawk seemed like decent people, and Pína was trying to use her training to defuse the arguments and help the married couple.

Despite the rift between Joe and Angela, there were moments of warmth and light-heartedness. This was most evident after Pína and Hawk made their indecent proposal and talked about various sexual acts. They were oddly relaxed considering the circumstances.

All four actors were on top form. They all gave terrific performances. Combined with the dialogue and Wilde’s direction, the film felt real, like when the characters talked over each other. It made the arguments even more believable. The pairing was played around with. Joe and Angela were happier and more open when they were with Pína and Hawk, respectively. Joe and Pína opened up to each other after sharing a spliff, and Angela acted almost like a schoolgirl with a crush as she tried to impress Hawk.

Wilde and her cinematographer, Adam Newport-Berra, made great use of the apartment, adding to the pressurised situation. It was a cramped maze of rooms and corridors with windows that meant privacy wasn’t possible. It was a film that had a great use of space.

The Invite was a great return to form for Wilde. It was a film that made the best use of its small cast and limited setting, resulting in a humorous yet biting experience.