This wedding comedy tries too hard
You’re Cordially Invited is a comedy helmed by Nicholas Stoller, a master in the genre who is known for some iconic 2000 movies such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Yes Man. And his 2025 stint similarly stars comedy legends of that era such as Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon along with Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner and Celia Weston.
The Amazon Prime Original is your classic wedding comedy, complete with venue shenanigans, family drama, sabotage and a sweet ending. Well, You’re Cordially Invited begins with an accident that leads to the double booking of a venue. Jim, the single father of Bride #1, Jenni must get her married at Palmetto Island at all costs so as not to lose her.
At the same time, Margot, the sister of Bride #2, Neve cannot afford any mistakes as her whole family is waiting for her downfall. Initially, Jim and Margot try to reach a compromise but it all turns into mayhem when one of them takes things too far.
The movie starts off pretty quickly with the double booking, the internal conflicts and the initial compromise. It almost makes viewers wonder how short the movie is going to be. Unfortunately, the writers exhaust all their best tropes by the first half of the movie. You’re Cordially Invited turns into a different movie in the second half as it is slow, the jokes don’t fully land and the cringe factor is cranked up.
There are several moments that feel inorganic and forced as if the writers are dragging out the plot to hit a certain run-time. From Margot and her siblings weirdly hyping each other up to Jim’s inappropriate dialogues when he is supposed to have a sweet resolution with his daughter, the second half is a mess.
But the only reason you may sit through the movie is for the cast. Hagner’s Neve is awkward and doesn’t seem to know what to do with her body. But the rest do their best including the “evil” matriarch, Flora played by the sweet Celia Weston. Will Ferrell as always, is a delight to watch. His banter with everyone is hilarious as he turns the overbearing Jim into a dorky and goofy little giant.
He may take things too far at times but you can’t help but forgive him. The slo-mo and opera music truly tie up with his physical comedy. Not to be outdone, Reese Witherspoon easily keeps up with him even though she gets the short end of the script. There are some sweet moments as her Margot shares the screen with Bride #1, Jenni.
However, neither Ferrell nor Witherspoon are able to salvage the finale which no one saw coming. It is out of place and seems to have been added as an afterthought. There is no set-up and one or two blink-and-miss foreshadowing that doesn’t count as an acceptable argument for the final coupling. Remember when we said the second half feels like a different movie, it also feels like a different genre.
It’s as if the Prime Original can’t make up its mind whether it wants to be a Ferrell movie or a Witherspoon movie. Both are stars in the comedy genre and have established a signature style when it comes to their movies. Will Ferrell comedies are loud, over the top and hammy. Reese Witherspoon comedies focus on familial relationships, rom-coms and dry humour.
You’re Cordially Invited is sweet and hilarious but the constant tonal shifts, dragged-out second half and cringe factor make it a slightly entertaining but forgettable watch.
Read More: You’re Cordially Invited Ending Explained
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Verdict - 4/10
4/10