by Jeff Alan, Contributing Writer
If wedding invitations came with a warning label, You’re Cordially Invited would read: “Caution: May contain sporadic laughs, forced romance, and a sprinkle of wasted potential.” Pairing comedy veterans Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, You’re Cordially Invited is a wedding-themed romp that promises more than it ultimately delivers. Directed by Nicholas Stoller, known for Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors, the film boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Meredith Hagner, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jimmy Tatro, Rory Scovel, and Jack McBrayer. With such comedic talent on board, you’d expect a riotous affair, but the results are more of a light chuckle than a full-bellied laugh fest.
The story follows two different families that get the news that there will be a wedding on the horizon. First, Jim (Ferrell) gets the news that his daughter Jenni (Viswanathan) is now engaged to her longtime boyfriend Oliver (Stony Blyden). Being a single father of an only child, and with Jenni essentially being the only person in his life, Jim feels compelled to make the arrangements for the wedding venue, and he books the same one where he and his wife got married. However, when he reserves the date, the elderly owner of the inn dies, leaving only a faint trace of their name on the physical reservation book. At the same time, hardworking Hollywood reality TV producer Margot (Witherspoon) is greeted by her sister and her now fiancé (Hagner and Tatro), who give her the good news. Margot takes it upon herself to help plan the wedding, booking the same venue as Jim, but this time a different person at the inn does not see the inkless etches of Jim’s daughters name, and accidentally double books the venue. This leads to a clashing of two worlds, where Jim and Margot are putted against each other to give their families the wedding of their dreams.
One of the film’s strongest aspects is its cast. Witherspoon and Ferrell, both seasoned comedic actors, have great chemistry, and their back-and-forth banter provides the bulk of the movie’s laughs. Witherspoon’s ability to play the hard-headed protagonist against Ferrell’s straight-laced yet chaotic energy is entertaining, even if it’s nothing groundbreaking. The supporting players — Hagner as Margot’s sister Neve, Viswanathan as Jenni, and McBrayer as the newly appointed owner of the inn — help elevate the film when the script falters. Their comedic timing is well executed, and they bring much-needed liveliness to the story.
That being said, the film’s humor is hit or miss. The best laughs come more from the dialogue than the physical comedy. Some of the more absurd, zany moments — like a speed boat ruining a nice moment and a certain sequence regarding an alligator — feel too forced, and stray into cartoonish territory. The film shines when it relies on witty exchanges and character-driven humor, rather than slapstick antics. Unfortunately, it leans too heavily into the latter at times, making certain scenes feel more cringeworthy than funny.
Another part of the script that develops over time is a romance that comes far out of left field. The film loses a lot of points for leading us to this romance at the end, and it’s completely unnatural when it happens. It’s a classic case of two characters being pushed together simply because the script says so, instead of any true organic chemistry forming between them. By the time they inevitably get together, it feels like an afterthought, rather than a satisfying conclusion to their arc.
Despite its flaws, You’re Cordially Invited isn’t without charm. There are a surprising amount of heartfelt moments that make sifting through the lackluster comedy somewhat worth it. A lot of the moments between Jim and his daughter are meaningful, and toward the end, Margot has her own conversations with her family that make her arc satisfying.
You’re Cordially Invited has enough solid comedic moments to be watchable, but it doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the sea of other wedding comedies, or just comedies in general, rendering it forgettable overall. While the film is entertaining in parts, it never fully capitalizes on its potential.
Rating: Low Side of Just Okay
You’re Cordially Invited is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video
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