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Richard James Havis

4/5 stars
The modern “sex comedy” emerged in the late 1960s in the West, when such topics became acceptable for open discussion. With The Invite, actor-director Olivia Wilde (Don’t Worry Darling) updates the genre for 2026 by throwing a conventionally minded couple into a risqué situation that forces them to reassess the state of their marriage.
Channelling the work of Woody Allen, Wilde delivers a breezy film making light of its characters’ failings, with a dry wit that provides many genuine laughs. Although comedic, The Invite makes its points better than more serious marital dramas of recent years, including the hollow HBO remake of Ingmar Bergman’s classic Scenes from a Marriage television series.
The Invite is not a wholly original work, as it is based on the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs, written and directed by Cesc Gay. That feature was itself an adaptation of Gay’s own stage play, and this talky American version is similarly theatrical – the script could have worked just as well in a live setting.


Wilde plays Angela, a homemaker living a suburban life in San Francisco with her husband Joe (Seth Rogen), a disillusioned music teacher. He is furious with their new upstairs neighbours, Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), whose noisy sexual trysts wake him nightly at 4am.
Angela is more intrigued than irritated and, despite her husband’s protestations, invites them to dinner. The dinnertime chat gradually turns to sex, and Angela and Joe are pulled into a situation that challenges their views of sexuality – and of their marriage.
Wilde shows courage with her third directorial feature, as helming an engaging film with just four characters in one location is a demanding task. She succeeds through the excellent performances of her top-notch cast, who interpret the racy script with unabashed gusto.
Rogen is the stand-out, eliciting unexpected sympathy for a grumpy character. Cruz and Norton are saddled with stereotypical roles as ultra-liberal bohemians, but their evident enjoyment elevates their performances above cliché.


Wilde is convincing in front of the camera, although the film’s cramped location affords her little space to demonstrate her directorial talents.
The Invite unspools in three acts. The set-up, driven by a surfeit of wordplay, insinuation and verbal cut-and-thrust, is the most satisfying portion. The story drags when the sex talk arrives, but it returns to form for the final showdown.
Despite all the dirty talk, this is a conservative film that ultimately champions suburban values over more experimental lifestyles. The couple may step out of their comfort zone, but that does not change their conventional mindset. Nevertheless, Wilde should still be praised for making an adult-oriented movie that doesn’t pull its punches.
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Film & TV

Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Ed Norton and Wilde herself deliver excellent performances, interpreting the racy script with unabashed gusto


Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Ed Norton and Wilde herself deliver excellent performances, interpreting the racy script with unabashed gusto.


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Seth Rogen

An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Ed Norton and Wilde herself deliver excellent performances, interpreting the racy script with unabashed gusto

Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Ed Norton and Wilde herself deliver excellent performances, interpreting the racy script with unabashed gusto