Title: The Invite
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Olivia Wilde
Starring: Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

What It Is: A couple on the brink of divorce (Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen) invite their neighbors (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz) for wine. What follows is an unexpected night of twists and turns that may be the final nail in the coffin of couple’s marriage.

What We Think: You know the old phrase “you’ll laugh, you’ll cry” that used to be used to promote shows? That was this movie for me. This movie is an emotional roller-coaster, all carried on the strength of some wonderful writing and four very strong actors. This film reminded me of a play. It all took place in one location and relied exclusively on the actors to tell the story. I laughed harder at this film than I expected, and I teared up when I didn’t think it was possible. This was very much an actor’s showcase. Each of the four brought something to the table that was a vital recipe to making this film as special as it was. Every bit of this film felt so well crafted and calculated, it reminded me of my theater days. To break this film down into each individual element feels almost wrong as it all felt so cohesive and intertwined. I could not tell you which part made me smile the widest or which actor made me cry, the analytical part of my brain turned off watching this movie. This was a movie at its most bare bones and it was a beautiful experience. If you are in a committed relationship, it makes you want to hug your partner tight. I called up my partner immediately after because this film made me miss them badly. This film is love, it’s passion, it’s art at its simplest but most authentic.

Our Grade: A+, This might’ve been the best film of the entire festival. It made me feel something deep in my core and I would recommend this film to anyone in a long term committed relationship. It will make you fall in love all over again.