The Invite (2026)

I didn’t realize it at first, but this is the fifth remake of a Spanish film (Sentimental, from 2020)—which was itself based on a 2015 play by Cesc Gay. Yet, compared to the original, this version manages to innovate significantly, not only in the character dynamics but also in the story’s actual content and intent.

Olivia Wilde is emerging as a bold and inspired director, having released films that reflect these qualities in recent years. In this instance, she deserves special credit for the brilliant idea of bringing in Esther Perel—the most insightful sexologist of the moment—as a consultant; Perel’s input enriched Penélope Cruz’s character and gave the film a particularly poignant message.

Expertly directed and featuring performances where the actors were free to improvise and craft their own lines, the film manages to be entertaining, chaotic, and serious—but, above all, genuinely curious about the subject matter it explores.

A couple grappling with various issues invites their upstairs neighbors to dinner, intending to complain about the noise caused by their intense lovemaking; instead, they find themselves invited—or challenged—to enter a new erotic realm that pushes them well outside their comfort zones.

However, unlike the dry, cruel sarcasm that permeates the original play and film (likely because they were written and directed by the same person), the conflicted couple here discovers a shared interest. This unites them in a spirit of mutual discovery, making the story captivating and vibrant—helped immensely by the casting of Seth Rogen in the pivotal role; even when being sarcastic, he remains funny and manages to diffuse the awkwardness.

While Seth Rogen manages to bring a touch of humble, self-deprecating humor—appearing almost in disbelief at what is happening to him (the “thank you” line during the striptease scene was he genuinely thanking his co-star)—, Penélope Cruz provides a direct counterpoint with her European “exoticism,” lack of inhibition, and sensuality, delivering the final twist that completely upends the main couple’s lives.

And that is, in my view, the greatest strength of this version of the story: here, the “invitation” in the title is no longer just about an unexpected sexual encounter; it becomes an invitation to revolutionize the relationship itself—an opportunity to rethink and re-feel things, leading to an ending and a fresh start based on a new foundation. It is a start that is more informed, mature, and adult—rooted in acceptance of one another and, above all, in curiosity, eroticism, and the chance to rediscover a zest for life, both individually and as a couple.

A great small movie, that may spark important conversations.

Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4/5)