THE INVITE-Seth Rogen Should've Been Uninvited to Make this Right

Olivia Wilde directs in stars in THE INVITE which also stars, Ed Norton, Penelope Cruise and the simpering Seth Rogen.  This cleverly written film by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack give a modern riff  to Edward Albee's classic play "Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?".  This 4 character film pairs Rogen and Wilde as married couple; Joe and Angela. They live in apartment building below a sexy, cool couple Hawk and Pina played by Ed Norton and Penelope Cruise. Hawk and Pina's noisy, sexual escapades have been disturbing their neighbors' slumber.  In "Whose Afraid..." the elder couple air their dirty laundry in front of a younger couple creating a tense, uncomfortable get together. In THE INVITE, the couples are the same age except the dirty laundry revealed is from Hawk and Pina. Pina apologizes for the recent late rumblings are attributed to group sex. Joe and Angela are stunned. Angela wants details. Joe for the first time is speechless.  Unfortunately, Joe isn't quiet for long and his whiny, sophomoric shtick he is known for grows old and detracts from the adult discussion of swinging. Wilde as director made smart choices with a stylish filming of a biting, sophisticated sex farce. But, Wilde made a serious error having Rogen as her errant spouse. Otherwise, Cruise as sex therapist Pina, is a sultry swinger who gives the film its vibrant sensuality. Norton as Hawk, Pina's partner in an open relationship is pitch perfect as the cool, confident lothario who charms Angela while trying to placate Joe's mounting antagonism. Pina and Hawk admit they accepted Angela's invite to come by because they intended to invite Angela and Joe to join them for group sex. Now, however, Pina feels they're not ready and finds Joe's anger toxic. Being put off ignites Angela and Joe to want to give it a go. They earnestly plead their case that they're ready to swing the night away. Hawk and Angela retreat to the kitchen for foreplay. Joe and Pina head into Joe's office. Pina's shirtless dancing sends Joe reeling right into the bookcase which comes crashing down sending his back into painful spasms which interrupts Angela's highly coveted orgasm with Hawk.  All these consensual pairings would've been credible and titillating if not for Rogen off-setting the sophisticated, sexual scenarios with his puerile antics that work for his stupid stoner "Pineapple Express" persona. Cruise deserves an Oscar nomination for her role. Norton and Wilde are both superb as well.  And, while Wilde might have earned herself an Oscar nomination for directing, she blew it with her major blunder using Rogen as her bumbling husband. Still, with a 75% impeccable cast and sharp script, it makes this a movie to become entangled in its tense, erotic quadrangle.