Making new friends as an adult couple can be challenging. We all lead busy lives, and often we’re in different places in our lives. You want to present the best side of yourself, but you also want to genuinely connect. It’s even more fraught if your relationship to your spouse isn’t in a good place.

That’s the premise of The Invite, a new film based on the 2020 Spanish film Sentimental. It centers on a married couple who’ve hit a rut, or a rough patch. The worst part is that the bulk of their issues remain under the surface, never addressed. That is until the wife, Angela (Olivia Wilde), invites the upstairs neighbors over for dinner. That awkward social encounter opens the flood gates for issues and discussions that have long bubbled under the surface.

The film centers on Angela and Joe (Seth Rogen), who was once in a band and now teaches music at a small college. They live in the Bay Area apartment that once belonged to Joe’s parents. They are raising their daughter and living quiet lives that are relatively independent. They don’t seem to talk or connect any more.

When Joe arrives home and learns there’s a dinner party, he doesn’t take it well. He’s annoyed at the neighbors upstairs, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penelope Cruz). He’s annoyed at the noise they make, and he plans to confront them, much to Angela’s horror. She’s hoping to find some kindred spirits that can breathe life into her daily routine.

When Hawk and Pina arrive, it’s awkward. As they try to play the role of host, and Joe tries to bite his tongue, it’s awkward. As they split up and tour the house, it’s awkward. But when Hawk and Pina make a stunning confession, it turns the evening on its head, causing everyone to re-examine their lives and relationships.

This is a daring and at times hilarious comedy. It’s also quite serious and ends in a quietly beautiful place that could mean different things to different viewers. That’s a credit to writers Will McCormick and Rashida Jones, but it’s also a credit to Wilde, who serves as director. The script and the performers come together into something beautiful thanks to the strong hand Wilde uses in her latest feature film.

This is one of the best films of the year so far. It’s my favorite comedy of the year, and yet I found myself quite moved at times. It’s essentially tightly focused on the four lead characters. At times it feels almost as intimate as a stage play. And because it’s a tight story, each of the four gets at least one opportunity to shine and to leave themselves vulnerable. That’s beautiful to see.

But ultimately, this is mostly about Rogen and Wilde. Each cuts a very different character, which at times leads you to wonder how they got together. But that’s the point of the story. Wilde is bravely emotional in her performance. But she also sells so much of the narrative on looks and facial expressions.

But it’s Rogen that impressed me the most. His comedic style and timing is well applied here. His line deliveries always lighten the mood and there are a few lines and deliveries he give that left me laughing out loud. And yet, he also delivers a quietly beautiful moment at the film’s close that is one of the best.

The Invite is sometimes tough to watch because of the characters and story, but it’s a rich narrative. It’s funny, moving, and beautifully crafted. It’s a must-see gem.

The Invite is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.