Olivia Wilde’s latest directorial effort, “The Invite,” brings comedic chaos to the screen in a story that revolves around two couples navigating the complexities of non-monogamy. The film, a remake of the Spanish comedy “The People Upstairs,” showcases a star-studded cast including Wilde herself, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton.
The Invite pivots around one disastrous group hangout between couples. Underneath all that visual pizzazz, it’s a very smart, insightful look at love and romantic relationships delivered in an entertaining, funny package. Belfort’s film narrative centers around an extremely discontent music professor, played by Seth Rogen. His wife Angela, played by Wilde, provides an emotional core to the movie. ReadCLIPBOOK The couple’s evening out turns into the experience of a lifetime. Soon, they cross paths with their bohemian neighbors upstairs, played by Cruz and Norton.
Wilde’s dynamic direction infuses all that exposition with tons of energy. Critics claim that her decisions start to feel unnecessarily fussy at times. Although The Invite sounds like a total comedic romp, it doesn’t shy away from examining the complexity of modern relationships and what makes love last, making you reconsider what commitment really means.
Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the screenplay for “The Invite.” It’s their creativity that really fleshes out these characters and makes their give and take sizzle. The drama of this film takes place in a single, frenzied night. It’s a masterful and hilarious depiction of the tension that happens when expectations don’t match up with reality.
The piece went viral after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, winning accolades for its fresh perspective on adult friendships. It is now in search of distribution deals to make its powerful message available to a broader audience.
On the production side of things, Wilde definitely had some amazing people in her corner. Known for editing collaborations with director Yorgos Lanthimos (such as THE FAVOURITE and DOGTOOTH), Yorgos Mavropsaridis took editing duties on the film. As the film’s costume designer, Arianne Phillips gave distinct personality to each character’s closet. Dev Hynes scored the music in collaboration with Wilde. It makes the film’s emotional undercurrents hit even harder while maintaining and even amplifying all of its comedic pizzazz. Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra helped produce the film’s stylistic aesthetic.
As “The Invite” continues its festival run, Wilde’s approach to storytelling has sparked discussions about modern romance and the challenges couples face in navigating their desires.
“One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” – Oscar Wilde