Esther Perel, a leading psychotherapist known for her work on modern relationships and sexuality, played a significant advisory role in the making of the new film "The Invite," directed by Olivia Wilde. The comedy, which opened nationally last month following a successful limited release, explores the complexities of long-term marriage through the lens of a dinner party between two contrasting couples.

Perel, the author of “Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence” and “The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity,” was invited to consult on the film due to her expertise on couples’ dynamics, particularly as Wilde was a former patient. The film stars Wilde and Seth Rogen as Angela and Joe, a married couple whose stagnant relationship is further exposed when their sexually uninhibited neighbors, Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), visit their home.

Perel described the story as addressing “the challenges of couples who get stuck,” highlighting themes such as lost desire, unspoken resentments, and the struggle to maintain identity within a long-term partnership. The psychotherapist emphasized the importance of portraying these issues not just as personal problems but as universal experiences that resonate widely, an approach she believes art can accomplish when therapy alone cannot.

Wilde praised Perel’s involvement, noting her profound observational skills and influence on developing the screenplay. “[Esther] really moves through space differently,” Wilde said, underscoring how Perel’s insight helped balance the film’s comedic elements with emotional authenticity, avoiding a didactic tone. The film is adapted from the 2021 Spanish movie “Sentimental,” and Perel’s contributions helped deepen its exploration of relational dynamics.

In preparation for filming, the cast and writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack engaged in a two-week workshop with Perel, including ongoing consultations during production. Perel advised them to view sexuality not merely as physical acts but as experiential and emotional spaces that reveal deeper truths about relationships. This perspective shaped key scenes, especially those involving Cruz’s character Piña, a therapist and sexologist who closely resembles Perel in demeanor, including her appearance.

Using her clinical experience, Perel helped rework pivotal moments, such as a scene in which Piña gently probes Angela and Joe’s history and the hurdles in their marriage without prescribing solutions. Wilde attributed the dramatic and tonal shifts in that scene directly to their conversations with Perel.

The film’s depiction of consensual non-monogamy and open relationships also mirrors shifting societal attitudes. Wilde observed that concepts like polyamory have become more mainstream over the past decade. Perel echoed these sentiments, noting that monogamy itself is an evolving social construct, and relationships continuously negotiate the balance between stability and change, security and freedom.

Perel’s collaboration on “The Invite” reflects her broader effort to bring complex and often private relationship issues into the public conversation, transcending the clinical setting to influence cultural narratives around love, desire, and connection.