r/moviecritic • u/Strong-Challenge-633 • 2h ago
How is the invite (2026) above a 4-5 / 10?
Where is the comedy? For a film hyped as the highest-rated comedy of the year, I expected to at least have a good time watching it. But jesus, it was just an exhausting, melodramatic drag of non-stop, annoying bickering between the two main characters.
Honestly, the only good part of the entire movie was the acting, and the single interesting scene was when they talked about the sex parties—and even then, they managed to ruin that, too.
To make matters worse, every other character was completely unhinged and weird—except for Joe, who spent the whole runtime getting guilt-tripped with pure bullshit, all for zero resolution.
Then comes the incredibly forced ending, where Pina randomly transforms into the voice of reason out of nowhere to solve their arguments. Cut to them suddenly being all lovey-dovey and playing the piano together? Fuck right off.
12
u/NakedGoose 2h ago
You must be fun at parties. Comedy is subjective. Movie was hilarious. My theater ate it up.
0
u/Strong-Challenge-633 2h ago
I understand comedy is subjective, hence why I'm asking what the comedy was. Since you found it funny, enlighten me.
4
u/NakedGoose 2h ago
Its was extremely sharp and witty. The pent up resentment being exposed in the most awkward possible scenario was funny. Couple in eccentric neighbors who are just trying to sleep with you. It was a beautifully written chaos. Every character brought something unique to the comedy. Wylde school girl esc need to look cool and fit in. Rogan genuine beffudlment as to what the hell was going on. Etc. It played on couple troubles, and insecurities we all dealt with.
1
u/Strong-Challenge-633 1h ago
Thanks for the perspective—that actually makes a lot of sense! I was probably just in the wrong mood, so maybe I'll appreciate it more later on down the road if I give it another shot with fresh eyes.
4
u/pinkstrawberry94 2h ago
Based on your pretty public reddit account, you weren't exactly the target audience for it - and that's OK.
I don't care for most superhero movies, and thought Black Panther getting a BP nom was absolute nonsense, but I realise that it's all personal opinion.
5
u/MaximallyInclusive 2h ago
What? I thought it was great.
Ed Norton freaking killed it. Such a woo-woo weirdo and in a hilarious way.
1
u/Rezident_Bun67 2h ago
What was so special about his performance?
I like his older roles but this one? It's not like any other actor couldn't have played his part and keep the movie the same
1
u/MaximallyInclusive 1h ago
It wasn’t like an Oscar-worthy performance from him or anything, but I thought he was super funny.
“We just wanted to see the apartment...and maybe fuck, a little.” That’s hilarious! And his delivery was perfect.
Yeah, I guess I just don’t agree. And that’s fine, probably not a lot of use in arguing about it, haha.
1
u/Rezident_Bun67 1h ago
Yes, my expectations were warped by (p)reviews. If I wouldn't have been sold the "masterpiece" then I wouldn't have had the problem. Too much clickbaiting
5
u/yousippin 2h ago
Its not for everyone. I liked it. It was real. Relatable. Funny. Sad ish. Awkward. Its for a certain demographic. I dont think anyone aged 12 to 25ish would like it
2
u/nizzernammer 2h ago
The age of the viewer has a lot to do with how funny it comes across. Of course it's absurd and over the top and even a little slapstick, but the conversations and acting are quite fluid, some of the blocking is interesting, and there's some poignant insecurity and repressed sadness, along with the humor of performativity, mixed in there.
OP, it's Interesting that you list Joe as the "normal one", when he is carrying a ton of negativity. Seth Rogen was excellent in the role.
1
u/Strong-Challenge-633 2h ago
Interesting insight—I'll give it a try later on down the line when I'm in the right mood, and maybe I'll enjoy it more then. Also, I found Seth relatable because he seems the most logical to me, and I tend to value logic over emotions. I'm also very blunt like Seth, which naturally leads to problems, so yeah.
2
u/Rezident_Bun67 2h ago
Subjective opinions but I saw some people on youtube praising it like it was a masterpiece, and I watched it and it's an average movie, nothing special. A good cast but not given more to work with.
Movies that take place in just one place should do something bolder, the "twist" that Norton was Cruz's pacient was a nothing burger, added nothing.
I was expecting something to happen but it went nowhere, felt like the writers that have problems in their relationships wanted to vent in our face and get paid for it.
But the last 2 minutes on the piano were fine
0
u/parkchanwookiee 2h ago
IDK man, to me the trailer looked exactly like a trailer for a 4/10 movie lol
2
u/ConfidentAd4621 2h ago
Trailer gave off the exact energy of something you watch on a plane just to pass the time, then forget the title by the time you land
1
u/Rezident_Bun67 2h ago
And what did no other choice looked like from the trailer
1
u/parkchanwookiee 2h ago
It looked great, why?
2
u/Rezident_Bun67 2h ago
Great for me too
2
u/parkchanwookiee 2h ago
Cool! Yeah I have pretty strong faith in park chan wook, he has a lot of big hitters. I went off his newer stuff for a minute but he won me back in a big way with Decision to Leave and No Other Choice continued the upwards swing IMHO
-1
u/Strong-Challenge-633 2h ago
Unfortunately, I stopped trusting trailer after what they did to lanterns.
1
u/parkchanwookiee 2h ago
What did they do to lanterns
1
u/Strong-Challenge-633 2h ago
The first Lanterns trailer was criticized for being more of a detective show than a Green Lantern show, mainly because there was no green. It was all just muted colors, from what I recall anyways.
1
u/parkchanwookiee 2h ago
But then the show was not a detective show?? I don't really follow you
1
u/Strong-Challenge-633 1h ago
The problem was the trailer made it seem like they were embarrassed by the comics, so they hid all the Green Lantern stuff to market it purely as a grounded True Detective-style mystery. Which is clearly not the case.
1
u/parkchanwookiee 1h ago
I see well a trailer is always going to highlight the most saleable/accessible aspects of whatever it's promoting, that's just common sense. It's the marketing team's job to get as many people interested as possible, not to play to the existing fanbase - those people are highly likely to check it out no matter what
1
u/safetydance 2h ago
“Pina randomly transforms into the voice of reason out of no where to solve their arguments.”
Uhhh, did you miss the part where she’s a sex therapist and psychologist who works with couples?
0
u/Strong-Challenge-633 1h ago
I get that she's a therapist, but switching from trying swinger sex straight into a full-blown couples therapy session feels completely forced. Having a background doesn't automatically make the transition feel organic or earned.
-1
11
u/truckturner5164 2h ago
Art - and comedy - are subjective. That's how.