Seth Rogen & Olivia Wilde clash in The Invite, a tense, funny, but uneven dinner party comedy that loses its way right at the finish line.
The Invite is brilliantly directed and shot, causing viewers to immediately wonder where things are going. Thanks to a small but mighty cast, and a hilarious first act, it is easy to get sucked in right away. That said, the third act feels a bit out of place, even if the direction it went was expected.
Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are a married couple whose relationship is running on fumes. In a desperate bid to feel something – or maybe just to play nice – they invite their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penélope Cruz), down for a dinner party. We are instantly teased with a looming question: will this night reignite their spark, or light the match that burns their entire life to the ground?
Ultimately, I liked the movie. I didn’t love it, but it kept me thoroughly engaged for the vast majority of its runtime. If I feel a bit conflicted, it’s entirely because of a jarring third act that left me with a bit of whiplash.
This is an incredibly talented four-piece ensemble, and each and every one of them gives it their absolute all. Olivia Wilde pulls double duty here, directing the film as well as starring, and she does a brilliant job behind the camera. The choice to set basically the entire film in one location is pure brilliance. It creates an immediate sense of claustrophobia, especially through the awkward moments where it is clear at least one person wants out of a conversation.
Wilde’s cinematography choices really showcase the emotional disconnect between the characters throughout the film. The camera fluidly follows them from room to room, often utilizing sharp shot angles that visually isolate people even when they are standing in the same room. You can physically see the distance between Joe and Angela before they even speak.
And when they do speak, the first act flies by. It is very, very funny, mostly thanks to Seth Rogen. Rogen completely knows how to deliver a punchline, balancing his trademark comedic timing with a relatable vulnerability. He is hilarious, and I instantly connected with his character’s defense mechanisms. His chemistry with Wilde – or rather, their masterfully executed lack of chemistry – is fantastic. It is crystal clear from the very first frame that this couple is going through the wringer.
But a dinner party needs guests, and once Hawk and Pina arrive, the entire dynamic of the film shifts on a dime. The atmosphere becomes instantly awkward, thick with the palpable tension that something is deeply amiss. Edward Norton plays Hawk with a calculating, charismatic edge. He is a man who clearly enjoys pushing boundaries and steering civilized banter into deeply uncomfortable conversations.
Norton is so good here, which is no surprise given his caliber, and Penélope Cruz matches him beat for beat with an alluring, mysterious energy. The tangled web of different relationships and contrasting energies between these four actors is amazing to watch unfold.
For two-thirds of the runtime, I was completely hooked. I expected things to take a turn, of course, however, The Invite just didn’t stick the landing for me. The ending pivots hard, getting incredibly deep and emotional. While I figured a dramatic shift might be coming, the tone of the final act just doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the film. It feels like it belongs to a completely different movie, abandoning the sharp, cynical wit of the setup for something that feels far too heavy-handed.
Still, despite a final act that fumbles the tonal balance, The Invite is absolutely worth a watch. The powerhouse performances, sharp first-act humor, and Wilde’s claustrophobic, clever direction hold the house together, even if the ending threatens to burn it down.
Rating: 3 out of 5
About The Invite
Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?
The Invite will have a limited release in theaters on June 26, 2026 before a nationwide release in July 2026.
