Based on the 2020 Spanish film (The People Upstairs), Olivia Wilde's The Invite is a biting, engaging adult comedy. It doesn't reach for the stars, nor does it need to. It merely places two middle aged couples in an enclosed space, and lets them nod, smile and agree; then disagree, attempt to cross-fornicate, and, eventually, learn valuable lessons along the way. Not a revolutionary concept, by any stretch of the imagination.
Reminiscent of one setting and limited character dramas, such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Carnage (2011), what The Invite lacks in scope in more than makes up in its performances. Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz and Seth Rogen all hold their own, but the queen of the quartet is director Olivia Wilde. She outdoes herself here, pulling weight on both sides of the camera. Her Angela is frustrated, depressed, and foolishly waiting a better tomorrow that never arrives; the actress projects this in every scene.
The Invite is entertaining and, at times, quite funny. In a summer of spectacular epics and superhero adventures (The Odyssey and Spider Man: Brand New Day) it is a welcome change of pace.
☆☆☆
No comments:
Post a Comment