The Invite Movie Review
Nathan Swank
July 10th, 2026
THE INVITE follows the uncomfortable and wild interaction between two couples and takes place entirely in an apartment building in the course of an evening. Seth Rogan, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton star in the dark comedy that echoes similar films before it. However, THE INVITE is entirely its own with sharp, witty, and hilarious observational jokes in a scenario that is both relatable and completely outlandish. I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud this much in a full theater.
THE INVITE Synopsis: 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?
Mike Nichols’ 1966 WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? immediately comes to mind as the film that blew me away after seeing it with a similar awkward, dark, yet humorous tone of a home dinner party night gone wrong involving two couples. Maybe I just have a soft spot for this type of situational punishment, but THE INVITE struck my funny bone for all the reasons for simply realizing how awful everything is that is happening. I had so much fun and loved every minute of it.
Directed by Olivia Wilde and written for screen by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones based on the motion picture ‘Sentimental’ by Cesc Gay, THE INVITE is smart and funny, firing on all cylinders. The score by Devonté Hynes hits all the right notes, the art direction comes to life feeling absolutely authentic, albeit a bit incredible for an apartment, and the actors are perfectly cast finding humor in everything, including a nearly broken relationship. And it’s not just the jokes, but the reactions and deliveries that find the touching points of each funny and awkwardly awful moment. Without getting into too much detail of the characters and the story, all these surrounding things set up the four actors who each bring the exact tone to the material. They not only walk the fine line to avoid crashing and burning, but actually achieve soaring heights of beautiful, comedic entertainment that I have not experienced in quite some time. Under different circumstances, this film doesn’t work, but thankfully with my audience, THE INVITE is a smash hit.
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