Movie Review: ‘The Invite’

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Review by Adam Courtliff

Over the last decade there has been a distinct lack of instant classic comedies at the cineplex, something that was all too common in the noughties and early 2010s. That barren spell, however, is about to come to an end with Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, a single location comedy powered by a stellar script, fantastic performances and impeccable comedic timing, resulting in one of the most enjoyable experiences audiences have been treated to at the movies in 2026 so far.

The Invite follows a once happy married couple in Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), who now resemble a far more relatable and stereotypical “old married couple”, with the opening credits offering an insight into the bickering matches that now plague their relationship. One of the main causes of their frustration is their upstairs neighbours, Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), who keep them awake at all hours due to their loud sexual antics. To make matters worse, Angela has invited the pair round for a dinner party to remember, with The Invite playing out in real time as the evening unfolds and delivers more than a few unexpected twists, including one that lands with genuine emotional weight.

While marketed as a sex comedy, The Invite immediately demonstrates that it is far more than that. It avoids the raunchiness you might expect from the trailer and instead opts for witty, in-depth conversation that delivers some of the sharpest and funniest dialogue we’ve had in years. It’s within this situational comedy that many couples will find plenty of relatability in the four central characters, particularly with the glass half full versus glass half empty mentality constantly on display.

Aside from the comedy, The Invite throws in a remarkable emotional curveball that works just as well. That’s largely down to the script from Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, who have done incredible work here. They ensure the character development of Joe and Angela feels flawless and authentic. It doesn’t portray either of them as solely responsible for the problems in the relationship, instead laying bare both of their flaws and insecurities, creating some genuinely raw emotional moments that perhaps aren’t what you’d expect from a film like this.

Films like The Invite that rely so heavily on dialogue either rise or fall on the strength of their performances, and that’s where the casting department has done exceptional work. Seth Rogen, in particular, delivers his best performance in years, showcasing near perfect comedic timing and generating many of the film’s biggest laughs. Olivia Wilde, perhaps drawing from previous experience, brings a more emotional and powerful edge to proceedings. Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton also knock their respective roles out of the park, each enjoying more than their fair share of memorable scenes.

As well as starring, Olivia Wilde also sits in the director’s chair and directs the heck out of this film. With the story essentially taking place over the course of a single evening, it would’ve been easy for The Invite to feel choppy or sloppily edited, but instead it flows seamlessly, aided by excellent pacing that makes it feel as though the entire film could be one continuous take. Couple that with the brilliant production design and some jaw dropping shots, including one towards the climax that ranks among the very best of the year.

The Invite is undoubtedly one of the best comedies released in the past decade. It is absolutely relentless from the get go, delivering genuine laugh out loud moments from start to finish. Yet beyond the laughs, it is also surprisingly profound and consistently entertaining. Make no mistake, The Invite isn’t just one of the best films in its genre, it’s one of the very best films of the year, full stop.