Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Starring: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton
Where to watch: Theatres
To watch or not to watch: Oh what a movie!!! So funny and deep at the same time! A definite must watch, but strictly only for adults

This reivew/recommendation is strictly for adults.

We meet Joe (Seth Rogen) (not) coaching a jazz band at a conservatory in San Francisco, lugging a difficult-to carry-and-definitely-devilish-to-ride foldable bicycle through the city to get back to his apartment, where he promptly collapses in the entryway, complaining of his back. His wife Angela (Olivia Wilde) meanwhile has been working through the day to prepare dinner where she has invited their upstairs neighbour couple over, without Joe’s knowledge. They bicker throughout the rest of the time spent in preparation, Joe being difficult, Angela responding but razor focussed on get things and herself ready. Joe’s biggest complain is the volume of the s** noises which reach their apartment from above. Angela on the other hand is fascinated by the couple, perceiving them to be stylish, put together and just more, you know. She is trying everything to make a good impression on them. Enter Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) who do exactly zilch to dissuade Joe and Angela of the image they have of them, in fact, doubles down on how liberating their lives are, while Joe and Angela are tightly wound, apparent from everything about them. Then they start talking more, and well, it is revealing.

Will McCormack and Rashida Jones have carved out something which will go down in the history and referred to for a long time to come, from an existing story (The Invite is a remake of a Spanish play and subsequent movie, “The People Upstairs). There is a reason their names are mentioned everywhere where people are talking about the movie. This movie’s strongest selling point is the art of storytelling. While it has a strong cast and a proven plot, the way they have adapted the story to fit the American culture and then delivers on it is amazing. The first half of the movie can come across as something which keeps you wanting something to happen, but when it does happen, everything becomes right in the world.

The movie comes across as a vanity project of Olivia Wilde in the first half, she is the director and one of the leads afterall. The direction also leaves a bit to be desired with camera angles not contributing to the story, and leaving the audience confused as to what to expect. It could have benefitted (and earned another 0.5 stars in this review) if the direction was a litte less. And similar with the setting – the walls and Wilde’s shirt were almost the same colour. The only way to distinguish between the two was through a 3D figure of Olivia vs a 2D wall. A bit too on the nose way to depict the bland life the couple was leading even though they had a beautiful house. All of this has little impact on the beauty of the movie which is carried by the dialogues, music, and story. The actors come close second to all that, and they were simply brilliant with the subtle acting, and it is difficult to discern through the runtime of the movie. It is only after the movie ends and we sit with the impact, do we realise the how of it.
All in all, a definite must watch, without a second thought. In fact, a good second, third or whatever watch too. Only for adults.