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The horny chamber play "The Invite" livens things up with the dinner party from hell
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

The horny chamber play "The Invite" livens things up with the dinner party from hell

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The film "The Invite" by director Olivia Wilde is a remake of a Spanish drama that tests the norms of monogamy.
  • The film, starring Wilde and Seth Rogen, is set almost entirely within a single apartment and features a dinner party that escalates.
  • While the film is praised for its refreshing take on relationships and challenging societal norms, it is also criticized for pretentiousness.

Olivia Wilde’s latest film, "The Invite," a remake of the 2020 Spanish drama "The People Upstairs," offers a star-studded and candid exploration of relationships that challenges the conventions of monogamy. The film, which also features Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, is set predominantly within a single apartment, creating an intimate, claustrophobic atmosphere that amplifies the tension.

The invite is both anxious and refreshing at the same time.

— Sebastian LindvallThe reviewer, Sebastian Lindvall, summarizes his overall impression of the film "The Invite."

The narrative centers on a couple, Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Rogen), whose strained relationship is disrupted by the arrival of their more bohemian and sexually liberated neighbors. The dinner party that ensues becomes a catalyst for confronting societal expectations and personal insecurities. The film’s setting, a spacious apartment formed by combining two smaller units, is presented as a metaphor for relationships, a device the reviewer finds somewhat heavy-handed.

The film is a remake of the Spanish "The people upstairs" (2020), which has already been made in Swiss, French and South Korean versions.

— Dagens NyheterThe article notes the film's origin as a remake and its multiple international adaptations.

"The Invite" is described as both anxious and refreshing. While it attempts to align itself with the legacy of Bergman and Woody Allen through its artistic aspirations and 35mm cinematography, the reviewer notes a sense of pretension. The film shines brightest when it embraces its more absurd moments, particularly when Rogen’s character provides a comedic counterpoint to the more serious discussions about relationships and existential truths.

The irritation between Joe (Rogen) and Angela (Wilde) is obvious from the first moment.

— Dagens NyheterThe article describes the initial dynamic between the film's central couple.

Ultimately, the film is commended for its willingness to push boundaries, addressing topics like jealousy and menopause, and consistently challenging characters' comfort zones. However, the reviewer suggests that Wilde could have been bolder in her filmmaking approach, mirroring the daring nature of the story itself. The article concludes by listing similar films that explore the theme of "home is best" versus "away is better."

The film is filled with that kind of wit, some more strained than others.

— Dagens NyheterThe article comments on the film's dialogue and attempts at humor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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