You're Cordially Invited (2025) review
you're cordially invited to giggle (I won't tell anyone)
Certain actors give you that feeling. You know the one: you’re suddenly transported to a five-year-old’s birthday party and you’re surrounded by a classroom-sized amount of children, (between 18 and 20), and they’re all fresh from eating cake and ice cream before drinking a gallon of soda an hour ago. Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon both give me that feeling. Before you start looking at me like that, please know I enjoy both Witherspoon and Ferrell’s work, (Legally Blonde is one of my all-timers), but I feel like I’d need to go smoke a cigarette every 25 minutes if I were ever at a party with these folks.
Amazon Prime’s direct-to-streaming You’re Cordially Invited will give you this feeling and will squeeze the mess out of you for the film’s duration. Witherspoon and Ferrell are respectively trying to plan a wedding for the ages (Witherspoon’s Margot for her sister, and Ferrell for his only daughter) on a lavish island with a strict one-wedding per weekend policy. As luck would have it, both weddings are scheduled for the same date due to a quirky mishap! Margot and Ferrell’s Jim immediately get down to business ruining the other party’s dream day. You don’t have to see any clips or a trailer to picture the children’s birthday party brand of chaos that ensues.
However, the supporting cast members will keep you from turning the TV off after 15 minutes. Margot’s southern family is warm and funny, and her mother (Ceila Weston) steals the show with her dry line delivery. Each family member brings their own strengths to the story; Margot’s bride sister Meredith Hagner is a highlight. They all work very well with Witherspoon as we learn the real story of why Margot, as a Los Angeles-based TV producer, doesn’t go home very often or why her family hasn’t made a trip to the big city.
Jim’s chemistry with his daughter, bride Geraldine Viswanathan, is a sweet highlight; their bond is bouncy, modern, and as fast-paced as your TikTok feed. The downright cringy aspect of the film lies in the millennial of it all; the references and jokes (like one about the 23-year-old maid of honor not being able to make a phone call), made me want to put my hand in the sand. Thankfully, cringy-ass humor doesn’t entirely rule the film; there are moments where I genuinely laughed out loud. 30 Rock star Jack McBrayer plays the venue receptionist. OF COURSE, you’re going to get some laughs if McBrayer is involved!
Unfortunately, the film remembers it’s supposed to be a romantic comedy toward the end, and Jim and Margot get together. Witherspoon and Ferrell are so much better as enemies than lovers; they absolutely have zero romantic chemistry together. Pair these two in a buddy comedy and they’re golden! As a bonus, the duo sing AND dance during the credits. I love general merriment but can we get any two other people for the required dance number?
When do we collectively not need some joy? You’re Cordially Invited will make you genuinely laugh and get your mind off of whatever is going on in the world on the day you’re watching. Nick Jonas’ cameo as a Creed-singing pastor was worth my two-star Letterboxd review! You’ll have a good time at the party but don’t be surprised if you have to sneak off for some quiet time.