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On Seth Rogen

 "The Invite" is a showcase for Seth Rogen, who just wants to remember what it's like to have sex.


Penelope Cruz has questions about Rogen's self-esteem. "Do you like yourself?" she asks. "Would you have sex with yourself?"

"Yes! I'm the ONLY one who fucks me. I fuck myself often!"

I get the sense that Rogen's best lines may be improvised. Having learned that his noisy neighbors like to host orgies, he tries to negotiate. "It just gets very loud. Maybe take the BIG sex parties offsite, to a motel. You know, if it's a birthday or an anniversary. Or Arbor Day...."

Penelope Cruz wonders aloud which particular birthday Valentina--a favored sex partner--celebrated at a recent dinner. "Next time you're preparing to enter her," says Rogen, "you should just count her rings...."

Rogen's performance reaches its climax when he tries to perform a sultry dance, then trips, falls on a stack of books, and throws out his back.

"The Invite" is clearly descended from "Annie Hall," and Rogen is in the Woody Allen role. It's not easy to forget your vanity and to be a clown--Rogen has major talent. (This was already clear in "Freaks and Geeks.") He is so inventive, I'm willing to bet that he is the author of one of the script's most startling moments. Eager to fornicate with Penelope Cruz, Rogen desperately suggests that it might be OK to use his middle-schooler daughter's (unoccupied) bed.

Go for Rogen; stay for Rogen. (Bonus points for Penelope Cruz, as well.)
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