I am a big fan of both Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. When I first heard about this comedy movie, I thought it was about time for these two talented actors to perform together. Also, after discovering that filmmaker Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) was attached, I had high hopes for this film. While I did enjoy some of the comedy here, I was often left with the feeling that Stoller and his cast were trying way too hard to elicit laughs from their audience. In addition, I found myself frustrated with the fact that the approach for the comedic gags felt all too familiar (Meet The Parents). All of that said, You’re Cordially Invited is still a fun movie, but not one that fires on all cylinders.
Will Ferrell stars as Jim, a single father widowed by the untimely death of his beloved wife. Jim has spent most of his adult life raising his daughter, Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), and providing the happiest life he could offer her despite her mother’s absence. Reese Witherspoon stars as Margot, a high-profile television producer who is mostly estranged from her family, save for the closely bonded relationship with her younger sister Neve (Meredith Hagner).
Jim wants to give his recently engaged daughter a wedding to remember. Margot desires the same thing for her sister and considers herself Neve’s wedding planner. When a terrible mixup occurs, and the wedding venue gets double-booked for both parties, It is inevitable that further things will go wrong. Though both Jim and Margot work out ways to share the venue, things come to a head when both willful personalities lash out against one another and lose sight of what’s most important.
Written and directed by Nicholas Stoller, You’re Cordially Invited is an uneven mix of great comedy, tired tropes, and ridiculous comedic misfires. Though I found myself laughing often, it is ridiculous how two seemingly reasonable people could go off the rails, thus derailing their respective weddings. The entire affair is frequently absurd and doesn’t ultimately work as a cohesive movie.
The cast has great comedic talents, but their abilities are misused or used in the most random gags. The development of the Jim and Margot characters is very scattershot and messy. It is hard to believe that these two supposedly successful individuals would let things get so out of control. Again, I found myself laughing at some of the jokes, but as a whole, You’re Cordially Invited doesn’t work as a realistic comedy. Thankfully, the movie is only available for viewing via Amazon Prime, because I would not recommend spending money to watch it in a theater.
Movie Review: YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED Is Often Funny, But Is Often Too Ridiculous For Its Own Good.
