‘You’re Cordially Invited’ Review – Ferrell & Witherspoon Square Off In Amusing Yet Inconsistent Comedy

Prime Video’s newest production introduces us to Jim (Will Ferrell), a widowed father, who books a wedding for his only daughter at the same venue as Margot (Reese Witherspoon), an LA producer planning the wedding for her youngest sister. Upon arrival one year later, both families clash against the other and against one another as they fight for accommodations on an island only large enough for one wedding at a time.

Though R-rated and written by Nicholas Stoller, director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors, You’re Cordially Invited is often unsure of its tone. Stoller’s writing credits include Night School and Get Him to the Greek, two uneven comedies that don’t match the cohesion of Stoller’s director-only features. This feature isn’t as strong as those early productions but is more consistent than Stoller’s more recent work.

The plot focuses on Jim’s daughter, Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), and Margot’s sister, Neve (Meredith Hagner), as they spend most of the film desperately attempting to be heard amid traditional Southern families of two generations. Jenni’s friends blindly defend her honor, uplift her spirit, and call out any hint of sexist language they hear while downing White Claws. Neve’s family, on the other hand, judges everyone, gossips about the stories they make up, and turns on the charm when necessary. The more attuned to Southernisms the audience is, the stronger You’re Cordially Invited is. 

Ferrell continues to do great physical comedy work as he enters his third decade of stardom. Though he continues to dip into the older male figure that’s caring yet out of touch, and sometimes berserk, this role allows him to share some of that spotlight with some funny co-stars. Jimmy Tatro as Dixon, Neve’s groom, is the standout who shares the physicality well when Ferrell isn’t on screen.

Witherspoon continues to dominate dramas as well as romantic comedies and it’s nice to see her in a role like Ferrell’s where she leads, but also gives the remaining cast space to figure out the ropes of the genres she’s mastered. Though she’s already married in the film, Leanne Morgan’s Gwyneth, Margot’s second sister, is outstanding as the sexually aggressive cougar. 

At times, You’re Cordially Invited feels like a who’s-who fest, which Stoller is known for, so the film might make a viewer miss the low-key comedies of the early 2000s where Ferrell hung out with his buddies and Witherspoon refused the advances of people who didn’t appreciate her full self. But even with the uneven tone of this one, you can tell the cast enjoyed working together. Jack McBrayer, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Wyatt Russell, and Bobby Moynihan all make an appearance.

One entertaining element the film plays with is the blend of classical opera and pop music. This blend really underscores the two worlds Jim and Margot come from while also emphasizing that in their own families, they’re the eccentric ones, and they don’t even realize it. 

Even amid fun musical mashups, the film stutters through its almost two-hour runtime because it maintains a tit-for-tat storyline and never really delves deep into the family drama each character hints at. Jim and Margot begin pranking and antagonizing each other in honor of their respective brides so early that within 30 minutes, it’s obvious the film won’t move far beyond that mode and it doesn’t. The pacing of the one-up-manship is even, but the film’s narrative just doesn’t have much room to explore since the extent of that premise is introduced so early. 

Overall, You’re Cordially Invited is a fun film to stream with friends or family. With themes of generational trauma, relationships, and honesty, there’s something there for everyone, even if that something overstays its welcome a little too long.

You’re Cordially Invited is currently available to stream on Prime Video.