Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon star in the latest romantic comedy “You’re Cordially Invited”, but despite their comedic talents, the film fails to hit its stride. Director Nicholas Stoller brings back memories of his previous hits like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Bros”, but this one doesn’t quite live up to expectations.
The story follows Jim (Ferrell), a single dad in Atlanta whose daughter is getting married, and Margot (Witherspoon), a TV producer who discovers her sister’s engagement. When both women decide to have their weddings on the same tiny island on the same day, they meet-cute in a comedy of errors.
However, despite its promising premise, “You’re Cordially Invited” suffers from continuity issues and underdeveloped characters. Will Ferrell’s comedic genius is partially wasted due to limited screen time, and Reese Witherspoon shines only as her tightly-wound big sister character.
The film’s reliance on familiar rom-com tropes and easygoing narrative arc are almost enough to work with, but for fans of the genre like those who grew up watching beloved romantic comedies in the 1990s, it feels like a disappointment. Overall, “You’re Cordially Invited” is a mediocre addition to the romantic comedy genre that fails to deliver on its promise.
Rated R for adult language and bad behavior, “You’re Cordially Invited” runs for 1 hour and 49 minutes on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/movies/youre-cordially-invited-review.html