Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Reese Witherspoon & Will Ferrell’s Wedding Comedy is Predictable, Yet Charming – A Valentine’s Day Treat on Prime Video!

There is really nothing that is not completely predictable about Amazon Prime Video’s latest big budget romantic comedy, but with Reese Witherspoon back in the genre, and Will Ferrell doing what he does best, the chemistry is there, and so are some laughs. This includes a real LOL moment involving Ferrell and an uncooperative alligator that is a good reason comedies should probably best be seen with a crowd. Unfortunately, despite its stars and fan-friendly genre, this one is straight to streaming. At least during the Valentine’s Day period, You’re Cordially Invited qualifies more appropriately as a far more pleasant date movie than the horror and action film offerings slated for this year. It isn’t going to make you forget My Best Friend’s Wedding, Bridesmaids, and Father Of The Bride anytime soon, but it’ll do, even as the ‘R’ rating here seems a little harsh.

The premise is simple, and writer/director Nicholas Stoller (known for Neighbors, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Get Him To The Greek) is skilled enough to basically take it from the setup and let his stars do their thing. Set at the picturesque Lake Oconee, 75 miles east of Atlanta, the location oozes old world charm. The Palmetto Inn can only accommodate one wedding per weekend, and through happenstance, two weddings get accidentally booked with no one, including hotel clerk Leslie (Jack McBrayer in the Paul Lynde role), realizing it until both Margot (Witherspoon), determined to throw the perfect wedding for her beloved sister Neve (Meredith Hagner), and Jim (Ferrell), who wants to give his daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) a perfect wedding, show up at the same time.

Margot’s credit card was the only deposit, giving her preference over Jim’s booking. However, after a few hours, she takes pity on Jim and his clan, agreeing to share the space with the gorgeous boat dock on the lake serving as the anchor for both weddings, which are timed to take place before sundown. Of course, things don’t go as smoothly as planned when Jim overhears Margot telling her family some unpleasant things about his family. This sets a bit of revenge in motion that causes Jenni’s wedding to go overtime. Complications rise when Margot’s whole wedding plan winds up submerged in water after the dock sinks with everyone on it.

The comedic elements unfold as misunderstandings and hijinks abound, but never so over the top that the human element is lost. Ferrell injects Jim with a genuine love and camaraderie for his only daughter, demonstrated as the pair perform ‘Islands in the Stream’ together karaoke-style when a sudden rainstorm forces both parties inside the lodge. Jim isn’t thrilled with Oliver (Stony Blyden), Jenni’s dim fiancé, but he wants her to be happy even when he almost messes up everything.

Witherspoon’s character feels somewhat like an outcast in her very Southern family, having ventured off to Los Angeles to become a successful reality show producer, leaving the rest of her clan tightly knit in Atlanta. There is a palpable tension with her stern mother (a terrific Celia Weston), who is the matriarch of four children, including another sister, Gwyneth (comedian Leanne Morgan, who delivers spot-on deadpan comic timing), and distant brother Colton (Rory Scovel). As things unfold, both Jim and Margot are not only trying to pull off perfect weddings that are barely held together, but they are also learning much about their own family dynamics, with a budding romance between them developing almost predictably.

Delivering a series of funny complications, including that memorable alligator moment, and accompanied by a lively performance from bridesmaid Keyla Monterroso Mejia, You’re Cordially Invited proves to be an entertaining blend of chaos and affection. I viewed it at a press screening, and when leaving, the theater’s manager expressed belief that this film deserved a theatrical release. It should have received one, yet it is poised to do well on Amazon’s global streaming platform, a trend seen with most traditional romantic comedies these days.

With Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell in top form, You’re Cordially Invited reminds audiences that this is the kind of fun comedy theaters were once made for. With its charm and predictability, it offers a light-hearted escape and serves as a great option for viewers looking for a romantic comedy to enjoy this Valentine’s Day. The film is produced by Stoller, Conor Welch, Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter, Ferrell, and Jessica Elbaum, reinforcing the film’s creative pedigree. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it still has the potential to warm hearts.

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