Olivia Wilde just landed a massive hit in the snow.
The director and co-star of “The Invite,” a couples dramedy that plays out over one night in a San Francisco apartment, unveiled the film on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival. A packed house filled with industry heavyweights at the Eccles in Park City, Utah swooned for the project that also features Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton.
“This was the dream, to premiere right here for you guys,” Wilde told the crowd, tossing in a final thank you to Sundance founder Robert Redford, who died last year at age 89. The subsequent 107-minute run followed a hapless, resentful couple (Wilde and Rogen) hosting their free-spirited new neighbors (Cruz and Norton). The ensuing madness — passive aggressive standoffs, food allergies, a swingers reveal, rug fetishes, tequila shots, and the concept of pegging — scored big laughs and poignant appreciation for relatable scenes from a marriage.
After the credits rolled, Wilde returned to stage and received a standing ovation. She wiped away tears and asked the audience to sit down to bring out Rogen, Norton, her DP and crafts team and script co-writer Will McCormack.
During the closing Q&A, Wilde was asked by Sundance programming head Kim Yutani how she walked a line of broad humor and raw emotion.
“I heard a wise person say, you’re never as vulnerable as when you’re laughing. And I think that the great thing about this group is it allowed us to take people on that journey, to let them laugh, let them relax, and then just gut punch them,” she said.
Norton praised Wilde for her third directorial outing, following “Booksmart” and “Don’t Worry Darling.”
“Seth and I are both who have directed films that we’ve been acting in as well. Inevitably, you you come to moments where you say, ‘This was a terrible decision.’ It’s hard for me to overstate the grace and wisdom with which Olivia gave that performance and directed us.”
“The Invite” is on the ground seeking distribution.
