The Invite

‘Exceptional’ ★★★★ The Guardian

A lightly embittered married couple (Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde) invite their unmarried liberated downstairs neighbours (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz) for an impromptu dinner party. Can the sexual spark of the other couple rub off, or will the frisson fizzle out?

Shot on 35mm, Olivia Wilde does admirable double duty as director here, shaping this modern Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? into a visual feast as much as it is a ripe chamber piece. Taking four superb actors and tossing them into a deliciously arch scenario is a long-held recipe for success, and this brilliantly well-observed drama upholds the standard.