Will Ferrell vs. Reese Witherspoon in a wedding war! You’re Cordially Invited mixes chaos and sharp laughs—flaws and all.
You’re Cordially Invited catches you by surprise. As soft music plays while Will Ferrell is cleaning his house, looking like another version of his ‘Daddy’s Home’ character, you are all set to roll your eyes. But then his daughter shows up, and you soon find out that you’re in for a new Ferrell-flavoured treat.
Ferrell plays Jim, who after losing his wife, has dedicated his life to his daughter. He is a sweet man for the most part until his dark side comes out to play. His daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan, an excellent comedic actor returning to ‘Blockers’ days) announces her plans to get married. Though he thinks it’s a reckless decision, Jim wants to support her so he books her wedding at the same inn on Palmetto island, Georgia, where he married her mother. Due to some mismanagement however, another wedding gets booked at the same venue, Margot’s (Reese Witherspoon) sister’s wedding.
The attraction for Margot in Jim’s eyes is immediate. But when he has to choose between his daughter and a new crush, he has only one option to choose. Margot, a successful TV producer is an individualistic perfectionist. Despite having her mother and other two siblings, she considers Neve (Meredith Hagner) to be her only family; which means she’s not backing off from giving her little sister a perfect wedding either. And therein lies the rub.
The entertainment comes from mashing together two different comedic styles of these successful performers. Witherspoon’s fast-talking, feisty Margot is well-mannered and proper on the surface, but you do find hints of Tracy Flick from Election peaking through the curtains. Witherspoon is the kind of talent that’s beyond material. She stands out even if her movies don’t.
While Nicholas Stoller’s script gives Ferrell and Witherspoon enough fodder to chew on, the predictable hate-love-hate-love relationship between them slows down the movie. It’s a compliment to the movie that its flaws are so noticeable because the movie, for the most part, is genuinely funny. The supporting cast brings in their special blend of funny as well.
The familial relationships are quirky but feel natural. There is a beautiful moment that Margot shares with her mother (Celia West) providing respite to their strained relationship, which was unexpectedly tender. And yet the filmmakers felt the need to fill the movie with unnecessary junk. A firmer hand on the editing application would have made this a comedy to cherish.
While the serene cinematography does elevate the script, the movie still leaves us wanting a better experience. Ultimately, fans of Ferrell and Witherspoon have much to enjoy in this flick especially if they are looking for simple entertainment for a while. In Stoller’s hit-and-miss oeuvre of comedic movies, You’re cordially Invited fits right in the middle.
Margot – ‘Okay, how’s it going?’
Dixon – ‘Well, you know, your family is a little intense when they’re all together, you know.’
Margot – ‘Mm-hmmm.’
Dixon – ‘Like, it sounds like they all hate each other, but they just keep smiling while they’re saying this real mean stuff.’
Neve – ‘Yeah, that checks out.’
Margot – ‘Yeah, that’s 100% how we do it in our family.’