FILM REVIEW: THE INVITE (15) ESP RATING: 4/5
- sharonmcallister28
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A funny, thoughtful relationship comedy – with far more heart than expected.
I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that the story behind The Invite originally began life as a stage play.
You can feel it almost immediately. With nearly the entire film taking place inside one apartment, you’ve essentially got your stage right there. Rather than relying on spectacle, it lives and dies by its dialogue and the chemistry between its characters.
Olivia Wilde (Don’t Worry Darling) directs, and also co-stars alongside a stellar cast that boasts Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
It follows a couple whose relationship has settled into constant bickering. They invite their neighbours over for dinner, and conversation soon takes a very unexpected turn when the guests reveal their rather unconventional sex life . . . and suggest the hosts might like to join them.
It’s a brilliantly awkward premise that creates plenty of opportunities for laughs. What surprised me, though, was just how much heart sits beneath the comedy.
Yes, there are jokes, but at its core this is a film about relationships, communication, growing older, and wondering whether you’ve ended up on the life path you actually wanted.
It very much felt like a comedy aimed at middle-aged audiences – those trying to figure out whether their routine has quietly replaced excitement.
The Invite is a slow burn. If you're hoping for the usual laugh-a-minute outrageous comedy usually associated with Rogen, this isn’t it. But if you’re happy settling into a character-driven story and simply enjoying four people bouncing off one another – there’s a lot of fun to be had here.
And I tell you what . . . I’d love to be a fly on the wall listening to the conversations people have on the drive home afterwards.
After this invites you in, it definitely commands discussion once the credits roll.
ESP Rating: 4/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penelope Cruz & Edward Norton
Running Time: 1 Hr 47 Mins
Director: Olivia Wilde
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
Comments