Comedies and rom-coms can get a bad reputation. They can be shallow and hollow, cheesy and predictable. Though You’re Cordially Invited has some exaggerated and over-the-top moments, the heart of the story lies in love and family, and at the end of it all, you come out of it feeling good.
You’re Cordially Invited features Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell as the heads of rival families when their wedding plans go awry. When Jim’s (Ferrell) daughter, Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), gets engaged, he immediately jumps on the phone to book the wedding at a nostalgic island where he married his late wife. Margot (Witherspoon) is the big sister to another bride, Neve (Meredith Hagner), whose family is a little more distant and chaotic. They also book the same venue on the same day and must figure out how to work together to give both brides the wedding of their dreams.
Of course, it can’t be that easy, right? Margot is harsh and a bit cold. Jim is overly sensitive and extremely (borderline weirdly) close with his daughter. Jenni is a millennial in every stereotypical way. Neve is a country girl who is marrying down, according to her family. Different circumstances, but one thing remains true for both characters: They want their loved one to have the best wedding possible.
“You’re Cordially Invited is a perfect movie night…”
Now, as with all comedies and rom-coms, there has to be some suspension of disbelief, or you just won’t enjoy yourself. The story You’re Cordially Invited tells is charming, hilarious and, yes, a bit out there. Reese Witherspoon is at her best, keeping up with Ferrell’s out-there comedy while remaining strong, independent, stubborn and hilarious. Ferrell is actually in one of his more subdued roles in You’re Cordially Invited, matching Witherspoon without being “too much.”
Truth be told, normally, Will Ferrell (Strays) is only good for a cheap laugh or two from me. I am not usually a fan of “stupid” or slapstick comedy, so many of his roles are lost on me. In You’re Cordially Invited, writer and director Nicholas Stoller (Bros, Forgetting Sarah Marshal, Neighbors) created a character that is endearing. You’re pulling for Jim, even when things get weird. And somehow, at his worst, you still find him likeable and are never rooting against him. Though both Jim and Margot do shady and strange things, somehow, I was always on Jim’s side. Kudos to Ferrell.
The supporting cast is where many of the laughs lie, with Jenni and her bridesmaids mocking everything a millennial is expected to be. Whether it is being overly sensitive and anxiety-ridden, willing to ride or die for Jenni, fighting Jim on a lawn or chasing him down a hallway, every scene, especially those with the hilarious Keyla Monterroso Mejia, was memorable.
Two of the funniest people on the planet, Jack McBrayer and Fortune Feimster, play small roles, with McBrayer as the venue operator, Leslie, and Feimster as Captain Barry, who brings them to the island. With very little to work with, I was still laughing out loud when they were on screen. Leslie plays a very “beta” role, constantly letting Margot steamroll him into things. Captain Barry causes some pretty crucial chaos, and I wish there were more to see.
You’re Cordially Invited is a perfect movie night, and Prime Video made the right call by snagging it for streaming. Whether you’re looking for something fun and light to watch or maybe looking for a cute movie for date night or Valentine’s Day, You’re Cordially Invited is worth the watch!
