Olivia Wilde Calls ‘The Invite’ the ‘Most Incredible’ Experience of Her Life: ‘It Was the Highlight of My Career’
Olivia Wilde brought her new comedy "The Invite" to the Locarno Film Festival for its European premiere, describing the project as the highlight of her career. Speaking to the audience at Piazza Grande, home to one of the world's largest cinema screens, Wilde said she had fought to secure a theatrical release for the film against pressure to skip cinemas, a decision made possible by her financier's backing.
The comedy-drama stars Wilde alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton as two couples whose dinner party unravels after one relationship implodes. It is a remake of the Spanish film "Sentimental", which has also been adapted into Swiss-German, French, Italian and South Korean versions, and Wilde called it a tribute to filmmakers such as John Cassavetes, Mike Nichols, Woody Allen and Nora Ephron. Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised the film in his review, likening it to a blend of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and vintage Woody Allen, while Wilde noted that despite its darker themes, the film is fundamentally a comedy.
In short
- Olivia Wilde premiered "The Invite" at Locarno, calling it her career highlight.
- She fought for a theatrical release rather than a streaming deal.
- The dinner-party comedy stars Rogen, Cruz and Norton; critics have praised it.
Explained simply
Olivia Wilde is an American actor and filmmaker who has also directed films. The Invite is a comedy-drama about two couples at a dinner party, where tensions rise after a relationship breaks down.
The film is based on Sentimental, a Spanish stage play and film that has been adapted in several countries. Its story centres on relationships and awkward conversation, in the tradition of dramas and comedies set around people talking together.
The film’s cinema release matters because films are increasingly released through streaming services as well as in cinemas. A theatrical release gives audiences the chance to see it on a large screen, and can affect how a film reaches viewers.
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