The wildest dinner party you’ll ever see is brought to you by director Olivia Wilde and A24. The film is a triumphant success for both Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen. Rogen, whose monologues usually trail off into the odd and uncomfortable, was able to stay the course and provide comedy appropriate for the occasion. For Wilde, a truly trajectory-changing film that promotes her into a new directorial category. She directs and stars in this hilarious drama that’s both uncomfortably wild and heart-filled.
Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) have a chaotic marriage that’s lacking spark and empathy. One day, Joe comes home from work exhausted, only to find out his wife has arranged a dinner party with their upstairs neighbors. Clashing all the way up to their arrivals, neighbors Piña (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) bring more to the party than just a tasty flan.
Credit: Courtesy of A24
The night played out in a hysterical nightmare. Joe wants nothing to do with these neighbors (who he detests for their unapologetically loud sexscapades), while Angela is desperate to impress them in hopes of making new friends. But between Joe’s brute honesty and Angela’s overreach, things looked as if the night would end sooner than planned. To Joe’s chagrin, the consistent mishaps were received as authentic by Hawk and Piña. As the night continued to veer off track, the neighbors were finding their footing.
The impromptu dinner party was an opportunity to size up Joe and Angela for sexual exploration, as the trailer suggests. Watching the night from beginning to end is a rollercoaster of laughs, drama, and vulnerability that would humble even the most hypercritical viewer.
The Invite is a film by adults, for adults, and it checked every box to make the perfect movie. The entire film is shot inside Joe and Angela’s apartment. The cast consists of two couples, who just happen to be played by extremely talented actors. The soundtrack is enough, but the best part of the film is when Joe and Piña share a moment over Sadé. Heavy strings are used when moments get tense that I thought was unnecessary. It’s the responsibility of the actors to take us “there”, not the music. The humming of deep bass from a stringed instrument ran parallel to George Miller’s similar touch in Mad Max: Fury Road. The awkward moments were absolute gold. Angela is extremely insecure and was looking to impress Piña with her cooking and decor. So, imagine her reaction when she proudly presents her “jamón” to Piña, who casually tells her she doesn’t eat meat. The subject of sex was dealt with magnificently, as it was used for comedic purposes without any sexual activity being shown.
The Invite gets a 9.5 out of 10. There was no such thing as the perfect date night film until this. Joe’s toxic relationship with Angela and their subpar communication explores a myriad of themes that rang familiar. Edward Norton was at his best, and this was by far the best performance I’ve ever seen by Seth Rogen. Olivia Wilde’s character was a bit much, but that was the point. Penelope Cruz was the mysterious, attractive sexologist and new girlfriend to Hawk, who showed his depth as the night lingered on. This one will definitely be in the awards conversation this fall.
The Invite will make its way to theaters in Washington, D.C. this Friday, July 3.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of A24
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: July 3, 2026 (DC) | July 10, 2026 (Nationwide)