Hot Competition

Pursue fun and glory on Addison's ultimate scavenger hunt

Grab a pal and go on an urban scavenger hunt at Pursuit on the Parkway.

Photo courtesy of Village on the Parkway

Those with a competitive streak, listen up: On September 16, Addison's Village on the Parkway — in partnership with LoneStar Sports and Social Club — is hosting an urban scavenger hunt that promises fun and adventure.

Team up with your partner, sibling, coworker, or best friend and compete in Pursuit on the Parkway. Each member of the two-person team needs to be 21 or older by the day of the race, but prior knowledge of the area is not a requirement. Just a quick wit, map and/or smartphone, and a thirst for new challenges is all you'll need.

Teams will receive a clue sheet at the start of the race, then encounter obstacles that have been strategically placed throughout Village on the Parkway. The course will be open from 2:35-3:45 pm, with the first team to collect all the clues and cross the finisher’s mat declared the winner.

Awards will be presented from 4-5 pm, and competition will be fierce for these prizes. First place will receive $500 in gift cards usable at Village on the Parkway's tenants, which span delicious eats at La Comida and Kenny's Italian Kitchen to luxe goods from Diamontrigue and Sebastian's Closet, just to name a few. Sponsor Sherlock's Baker St. Pub & Grill is sure to have something tempting on offer.

Second place wins $250 in gift cards, and third prize is $100 in gift cards. And lest you think the race is the only fun part of the day, teams are also encouraged to dress up — with two teams taking home bragging rights (and $50 in gift cards) for their creativity.

As an extra incentive to move fast, those who register before September 1 will pay only $25 for the entrance fee. After that, regular pricing is $30 per two-person team. If you want to assemble a large group and simply pair off during the course, that's fine — just remember that only one team can claim the ultimate glory.

races promoted

Movie Review

The Invite delivers smart, sexy laughs with an all-star cast

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film - which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century - has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples - the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis - turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights - and occasional bawdiness - make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

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The Invite is now playing in theaters.

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