“The Invite” is directed by Olivia Wilde (Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling) who also stars in the film as Angela. Joining her is Seth Rogen (Sausage Party, The Super Mario Bros. Movie), Penélope Cruz (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Ferrari), and Edward Norton (The Incredible Hulk, American History X). This film is about a couple in a declining marriage who decide to invite their neighbors over for dinner, only for the night to go in an unexpected direction.

Olivia Wilde is one of those Hollywood insiders I respect, but I sometimes forget just how much of a footprint she has in the industry. When I found out about her directorial debut, “Booksmart,” in 2019, I was excited to see what skills she could bring behind the camera. And while I thought the film was not my favorite of the year, I found some parts quite funny, and the two leads were excellent.

Then came “Don’t Worry Darling…” It is a film that has quite a bit going for it in the first couple of acts, but topples like a house of cards by its conclusion. It was a frustrating film to watch, despite a sometimes great performance from Florence Pugh. It was not the worst film of 2022, but it nearly turned me off of seeing “The Invite,” a film that I wound up watching after hearing positive word of mouth.

I am proud to say that not only did I enjoy “The Invite,” but it is Olivia Wilde’s best directorial effort yet. It is a film that showcases a married couple’s drama as both sides do their best to play things cool in front of their neighbors. This is also perhaps Wilde’s most grounded film yet, even if it does involve a series of extreme scenarios faced by several characters.

While Olivia Wilde seems to be growing as a director, she has spent most of her career as an actress, and therefore it is no surprise that the performances in “The Invite” are perhaps the highlight of the film. Some highlights are shown through the sometimes funny, other times riveting relationship between Joe and Angela. Seth Rogen plays the former while the latter is played by Wilde herself. The cast in this film is quite small. The movie revolves around four characters and for the most part, is set in one location. The other two characters, Piña and Hawk, are played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. What the film lacks in quantity it most certainly has in quality, which is by no means a bad thing.

The story is quite digestible, moves at a steady pace, and it is easy to buy each of the characters as individuals and as members of their particular relationships. Each actor plays off each other incredibly well and it also helps that they have such remarkable material to work with.

The more I reflect on the film, I do not necessarily think the story has one character that is a true protagonist or antagonist. The film feels more like an exciting game of two equally balanced teams or players. Each one has their strengths and weaknesses, and the movie finds a way to make you root for or appreciate each character in the cast.

Despite being a drama and mostly about a couple’s failing marriage, the film is surprisingly funny. I should not be that surprised considering how Rogen has a knack for comedy on camera, and Wilde has experience with directing good comedy through “Booksmart,” but comedy is all about timing, and it could not be better when it comes to how everything is executed in “The Invite.”

Speaking of timing, this is a film that truly takes its time. There is not a single scene that feels rushed, even if the characters find themselves in a fast-paced situation. “The Invite” does a phenomenal job at hinting at each character’s motivation and taking advantage of those motivations in future scenes. Plot-wise, this film starts as one thing and almost becomes something else entirely. I would not call “The Invite” the twistiest film of all time. In fact, I had a slight idea as to where things would go given how I have heard other viewers talk about the film’s vibe before I had a chance to check it out. But the film starts off as a conversational dramedy and morphs into something more complex and nearly bonkers. And while, again, this is not the twistiest movie I have ever seen, this film marks an improvement from Olivia Wilde’s last movie, “Don’t Worry Darling.” That film, much like this most recent one, was not written by Wilde. But when it comes to the films Wilde helmed, “Don’t Worry Darling” had a gargantuan twist, but bigger does not always mean better. If anything, it made that movie fall off a cliff. While “The Invite” definitely heightens its reality in the second half, it stays fairly consistent with the film’s grounded nature, and it is all thanks to a particular reveal that I will let you see for yourself.

Although it should be noted, while Will McCormick and Rashida Jones did in fact craft one of the best screenplays of the year, it is not an original idea, as this film is inspired by a 2020 Spanish picture called “The People Upstairs.” I have not seen that movie, nor have I heard of it prior to watching “The Invite,” but if anything, this film serves as the greatest piece of marketing “The People Upstairs” could ask for. “The Invite” serves as a piece of marketing to its predecessor in the same way that “The Departed,” a 2006 Hollywood film, was arguably the greatest piece of marketing for the 2002 Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs.” “The Departed” was not only nominated for multiple Academy Awards, it won Best Picture. “Infernal Affairs” had less relevance in the United States, much like “The People Upstairs,” so it is no surprise that the Academy did not recognize either film. But I have a strong feeling that “The Invite” will be recognized for sure. Based on its top notch direction by Olivia Wilde, brilliant writing by McCormick and Jones, smart editing choices by Yorgos Mavropsaridis and Anthony Boys, and excellent performances by the four actors who command the screen in each scene, “The Invite” is one of the year’s finest movies.

In the end, “The Invite” is Olivia Wilde’s best work so far as a director. There is a saying that you are only as good as your last project, and that made me somewhat hesitant to check out this movie as I was not exactly fond of Wilde’s previous outing, “Don’t Worry Darling.” But not only is her latest film a vast improvement as far as I am concerned, but it makes me look forward to what she has up her sleeve next. This film is proof that big things come in small packages. The cast may be tiny, but the story packs a punch. Do not miss this one. I am going to give “The Invite” an 8/10.

“The Invite” is now playing in theaters and it is also available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! I am happy to announce that the next episode of Movie Requests officially drops Monday September 7th and it is going to feature Melissa Barrera! You may know her from movies like “Abigail” and “Your Monster,” as well as shows like “The Copenhagen Test” and “Keep Breathing.” You can also catch her on Broadway in the musical comedy “Titanique,” which I have seen twice and find to be an utter riot. Check out the episode when it drops Monday September 7th here on Flicknerd.com and YouTube! If you want to see the episode as soon as possible, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Also, be sure to check out my most recent episode of “Movie Requests,” featuring Amy Sedaris! In this episode, I talk about two of her favorite films, “The Elephant Man” and “Babe!” What did I think of them? Watch the video to find out.

My next review is going to be for “Cookie Queens!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Tony,” “Spa Weekend,” “Coyote vs. Acme,” and “Idiots.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Invite?” What did you think about it? Or, what is a movie featuring a small cast that you enjoyed recently? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!