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To start any weekend off in the Hamptons, the possibilities are endless\u2014maybe it\u2019s drinks at Le Bibloquet followed by dinner at Sant Ambroeus, or the more relaxed route of a backyard barbecue with friends. This past Friday, though, the most enticing invite was a screening of The Invite at Regal UA East Hampton. With locals including Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Tory Burch, and Christie Brinkley in attendance, the cinema was the most buzzing destination in town.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival, guests paused for photos before making their way through the halls of the theater and loading up on buttery popcorn and bubbling soda. Some peeked into the concession stand for a taste of nostalgia too, securing Sweet Tarts, Twizzlers, and Cookie Dough Bites to balance beneath their bags of popcorn.<\/p>\n
As the lights dimmed, Jason Weinberg, manager to the movie\u2019s director and star Olivia Wilde and her co-star Pen\u00e9lope Cruz, appeared as host for the evening and welcomed the crowd. \u201cI f*cking love this movie so much,\u201d he told the room. \u201cOlivia is so appreciative that you\u2019re all here. She just wants everyone to laugh themselves silly and have a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Wilde\u2019s wish was the audience\u2019s command. Throughout the just-shy-of-two-hours film, the crowd\u2019s energy matched the movie\u2019s rhythm; laughing uncontrollably at Seth Rogen\u2019s one-liners and dance moves, holding onto every word of Edward Norton\u2019s monologue, and fighting back tears during the closing scene.<\/p>\n
By the time the credits rolled, the rapturous applause said it all. Once cheers subsided, guests neatly shuffled out of the theater, sharing their initial reactions\u2014calling it both \u201cincredible\u201d and an \u201cemotional rollercoaster\u201d\u2014as they made their way to the next portion of the night.<\/p>\n
Weinberg invited everyone to continue the fun at Si Si at East Hampton Point. Down a sandy path, a waterfront cocktail hour overlooking the marina awaited. As guests settled underneath string lights, sliders, tuna tacos, lobster rolls, and fried dumplings made the rounds. Guests also discovered nods to the film spotted at every turn\u2014from charcuterie boards to a trio of signature cocktails cheekily named Sexy Swap, Double Date, and The Offer.<\/p>\n
Actor Mickey Sumner, who sat on a loveseat overlooking bobbing boats, credited the shared experience of watching the film together as the reason for the more grounded tone of the after-party. \u201cIt\u2019s given us all permission to talk about things that are scary, or intimate tonight\u2014relationships, marriage, how you can get into these ruts,\u201d she told Vogue, \u201cI was just saying to my husband, \u2018When was the last time we felt all these feelings in a movie theater?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Attendees spent the evening catching up with one another, continuing to reminisce on the themes of the film. Brinkley, fresh off a trip to France, told Vogue that this was her first outing since settling back into Hamptons life. \u201cI put so much anticipation on this film,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it really delivered. We all recognized ourselves in certain parts, or recognized each other in other parts.\u201d<\/p>\n