What is it about dinner parties and meals in film? I’m drawn to them like a moth to a flame. The use of a “feast scene” is something I often talk about in terms of horror films, so when I saw the trailer for The Invite, I knew I had to see it. Fortunately for me, it didn’t disappoint! I’m going to discuss some deeper details of the film, but I won’t reveal the ending. If you want to go in completely blind, come back and read this after you’ve seen the film.
In The Invite, “Joe and Angela’s marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?”
In the book I’m working on about gastro horror, I talk about feast scenes. These are scenes in which the characters are at a meal, while the audience learns more through action or exposition delivered during the meal’s duration. In my book, I write, “consider how Game of Thrones fans will never be able to hear ‘The Rains of Castamere’ without thinking about the Red Wedding, which was itself a feast scene. [A] meal is a great way to connect, whether with characters or with your audience. We’ve all gathered around a table at some point in our lives to share a meal, so it stands to reason that this would be a good way to move a plot along in a way we can connect with.”
Part of this, especially in The Invite, is the preparation of the meal. In fact, from a viewing standpoint, we see more of the preparation than any of the consumption. It is at this dinner party that we first meet Angela (Olivia Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen). Angela has planned to host Pina (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) for dinner. We get a montage of her shopping for various charcuterie fixings and seemingly enjoying her day. Meanwhile, Joe is working as a music teacher and biking home. It’s clear he’s not having a good time with life. When he gets home, he’s frustrated at having to have company he doesn’t remember agreeing to. Not only is the photography of the food in these opening scenes gorgeous, but this introduction to our characters, especially in the montage, tells us without saying much that they are clearly not on the same page. The use of music during the first act is also used incredibly effectively. So much so that my husband literally wanted to walk out because it was so anxiety-inducing for him.
Food is also used to illustrate how the couples seem to engage with one another. Once Pina and Hawk show up, they reveal they’ve brought on of Pina’s flans. Hawk raves about it and even compares it to heroin. Meanwhile, Joe bags on Angela for how much she’s purchased and how much she’s spent. He never appears to appreciate how much thought or care she put into the presentation of this meal. The flipside of this, though, is that Joe isn’t entirely off base. In her desire to impress, Angela failed to ask about dietary restrictions, and it turns out Pina can’t eat most of it. I thought this was an interesting way of showing that had they come together to plan (aka communicate), they might have discussed bringing that up in advance. There is also a burnt soufflé that seems reflective of how, when one doesn’t pay the necessary attention to their relationship, it can crash and burn. 
Outside of the food and its use to tell the story, there is a lot to like about this film. The performances from everyone are spot on. They really nail the multi-faceted nature of relationships, the show we tend to put on for others, and how those masks can slide off. The Invite is a really interesting exploration of partnerships and how we settle into them. I like the dynamics between the two couples and how Joe and Angela wanted the attention of Hawk and Pina for various reasons. Angela wants Hawk’s attention because she feels listened to, as illustrated by her conversation with him about the bedroom paint that Joe doesn’t care about. Joe wants Pina’s attention because he wants to feel attractive, which is shown through his self-deprecating humor. In addition to performances and a solid screenplay, The Invite‘s aforementioned use of music is really incredible. It sets the tone for the various scenes in a way that you don’t normally see in dramedies or rom coms. Sure, everything has a score, but in this case, it felt like a character itself.
Overall, I think this is a solid film that fires on all cylinders. Like a good meal, it takes you on a journey and delivers a satiating conclusion. I definitely recommend checking it out theatrically because the sound design is just so great, and I think it would play well with an audience. The Invite is playing in theaters now.
My Rating: 4/5
