Sundance Review: The Invite is a Knockout Relationship Comedy

Olivia Wilde's latest film is a hilarious take on modern relationships that had Sundance audiences in stitches.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:47pm

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Among Sundance's great pleasures is the experience of a film steadily building buzz to the point where it becomes the talk of the fest. That was the case with Olivia Wilde's The Invite, an uproariously funny relationship comedy that had audiences at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in stitches. The film follows a couple, Angela and Joe, whose stagnant marriage is disrupted when Angela invites their upstairs neighbors, the eccentric Pina and Hawk, over for dinner. As the evening progresses, the clash of personalities leads to the release of years of pent-up frustrations and resentments.

Why it matters

The Invite is a testament to Wilde's progression as a filmmaker, showcasing her talent for crafting kinetic comedies that explore the complexities of modern relationships. With its relatable characters and sharp, witty dialogue, the film provides a refreshing antidote to the dearth of comedies in today's cinematic landscape.

The details

Employing just four principal actors, including Wilde herself, and a single apartment setting, The Invite is an impressive feat of filmmaking. Wilde conducts her quartet of players to an orchestral performance, building the dramatic tension of the relationship-turned-powder-keg from years of complacency and poor communication. The combination of personalities clashes and harmonizes during a rollercoaster evening in which dirty laundry is aired and genial facades burst from the brutal honesty they were meant to contain.

  • The Invite premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

The players

Olivia Wilde

The director of The Invite, who also stars in the film as the self-conscious and eager-to-please Angela.

Seth Rogen

The actor who plays Joe, Angela's snarky and cynical husband, a music teacher with no passion for teaching or anything else.

Penélope Cruz

The actress who portrays Pina, the extroverted and intensely sincere psychotherapist / sexologist who, along with her husband Hawk, is invited to the dinner party.

Edward Norton

The actor who plays Hawk, Pina's retired firefighter / rug enthusiast husband, who is invited to the dinner party along with his wife.

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What they’re saying

“One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.”

— Oscar Wilde

“The combination of personalities clash and harmonize during a rollercoaster evening in which dirty laundry is aired and genial facades burst from the brutal honesty they were meant to contain.”

— James Bond, Author

What’s next

The Invite will be released by A24 following its Sundance premiere, giving audiences a chance to experience the film's hilarious and insightful take on modern relationships.

The takeaway

Olivia Wilde's The Invite is a testament to her growth as a filmmaker, showcasing her talent for crafting kinetic comedies that explore the complexities of relationships in a relatable yet hilarious way. The film's success at Sundance suggests a bright future for Wilde as a director who can deliver both big ideas and big laughs.