The Invite Review: Funniest Movie Of The Year, While Also Being One Of The Best

Olivia Wilde (Tron: Legacy) pulls double duty while directing and starring in The Invite, a comedy about what happens when two vastly different couples meet up for dinner.

Synopsis:

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela’s (Wilde) marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places.

Cast: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, Penélope Cruz

Release Date: In Theaters Now

Excellent Comedic Timing

Credit: A24

As it says in the headline of this article, The Invite is by far and away the funniest movie of the year. I'll add onto that by saying it's possibly one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I can't remember the last time I went to a movie theater and laughed as much as I did for this film. Not only that, but the entire audience being into it really added onto that humor. It's such a smart screenplay for a lot of reasons, and obviously we'll talk about the great cast soon, but its main success is in the way it creates incredibly uncomfortable situations. From the moment that Rogen's character gets home from a meaningless day at work, there's bumpy tension between him and Wilde. This film sets its tone right off the bat, playing to its strengths as both a ridiculous and inviting (pun not intended) comedy.

Although a lot of these situations are naturally uncomfortable, the screenplay makes it so it doesn't make it hard to watch in any way. In fact, you really just can't wait to see what will be said next. I know there is a large group of people out there that don't really like dialogue heavy movies, but I promise you that this film will even win over those people. The movie is a game of chess, with each person involved trying to hit the right moves to win their personal objective. For Rogen/Wilde, it's actually confronting their marital issues through their supposedly bizarre neighbors. For Norton/Cruz, it ends up being a night of feeling them out before bringing an absurd proposal to them. The entire thing is a masterpiece of comedy and timing, mostly due to the excellent script from Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.

Phenomenal Cast

Credit: A24

I just spent the last section praising the film's writing, but it also must be said - this cast elevates an already amazing script. I don't have any particular connection or interest in anyone in this cast, outside of maybe Rogen, but I literally can't imagine anyone else playing these roles. Let's start with Wilde, which for me is the undisputed master at facial expressions in this. Sure, she's got the comedic timing necessary to play alongside everyone else, but it's really the amount of times the camera cuts to her morphing her face in absurd ways that fit the scene. You can tell that she's desperate to impress these two strangers, probably because she thinks in some way it'll help her marriage. That in itself adds to the absurdity and gives her many hilarious moments. Do I need to tell anyone that Seth Rogen is one of the funniest men alive? He totally understands exactly what this character needs, playing off the idea that he's a loser. This especially comes alive when the proposal does come from the other couple, with him acting out the fish out of water idea to perfection. He also has what I consider to be the funniest scene in the entire film, so come back to this after you see it and let me know if you know which one I'm talking about.

As for Norton and Cruz, they are kind of on the defensive the whole night. Once you realize their motives, you can go back and see that they spent the whole night trying to understand exactly what's going on between the couple in front of them. That kind of probing is especially shown by Cruz, who is easily the more eager of the two. Her scenes with Rogen are a true highlight. This isn't really a role I'd imagine Norton in at all, but he crushes that innocent nature in his character. Not to mention, he's got a monologue towards the end of the film that is a beautiful moment in an otherwise laugh-heavy time.

Beautifully Shot

Credit: A24

I know that Olivia Wilde isn't really an acclaimed director in any way, but I have to say that I was obsessed with the way her and cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra shot this film. If you aren't aware, the entire thing was shot on 35mm film, really giving it a retro feel. It definitely does make it feel like a classic comedy with its own distinct style. But also generally, the framing here is off the charts. The way it's framed is basically a character in itself and you can see it with some of the photos I've added here for this article. First, it makes us really feel like we are passengers along for the ride of this night. Everything feels tangible and real, which is also helped by the fact it all takes place in one location. Second, it helps tell the story of the tension between Wilde and Rogen. Obviously that becomes apparent in their interactions throughout the first act, but the way it's shot early on makes you realize that right off the bat. Everything is done for a particular reason and I have to respect Wilde/Newport-Berra for really understanding how to make the most of their camerawork.

Ending with Genuinely Impactful Themes

Credit: A24

One of the more impressive feats that The Invite pulls off is that for a movie that is 95% comedy focused, there ends up being a really impactful message by the end. It's no secret that this movie is about marriage and martial problems, but what you don't realize is that the ending will offer some genuine discussion about the topic. No spoilers here, but it mostly comes out when Cruz has a monologue towards the end where she's directly facing both Rogen/Wilde and the camera. She's talking to both the audience and the characters, really explaining brass tacks about what marriage can mean for people. That moment plus Norton's monologue are really masterclasses at taking a comedy and turning it serious almost immediately. In the case of this movie, it doesn't feel sudden at all. My theater went from hysterically laughing to compleltey silent in both of these moments and I even heard some sniffling. Really the last scene of the movie is so well shot, acted, and directed.

Final Thoughts

Those who go into The Invite expecting a incredible time at the movies will absolutely be satisfied. At the same time, you will leave with a new and fresh perspective on some themes that are clearly worth discussing. I cannot emphasize how much this experience is elevated by seeing it in a movie theater, go get as many friends and family as possible to see this one on the big screen!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

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