By Elliot Lines - January 30, 2025
The latest offering from the wedding-oriented romantic comedy genre is You're Cordially Invited. Starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, the film sees Jim (Ferrell), a parent, and Margot (Witherspoon), a sibling who both book the same wedding venue for their daughter and sister, respectively—only to find there's space for just one wedding party.
With a great cast at the helm, You're Cordially Invited doesn’t stray far from the typical romantic comedy tropes. While its storyline is fairly predictable and unlikely to stand out, it still manages to provide comedic joy and entertainment with a little bit of chaos.
Romantic comedies, especially those centered around weddings, are part of an oversaturated genre. This leaves little room for innovation, but thanks to the film’s storyline, the director manages to inject some chaos into the proceedings. The film is at its most fun when Ferrell and Witherspoon are hellbent on sabotaging each other’s plans—whether that involves boats causing waves or even crocodile wrestling.
Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are the clear draws, with Amazon banking on their star power to bring in viewers. Both performances are enjoyable, with Ferrell playing an overbearing father and Witherspoon portraying a loving sister estranged from her family. Their characters are given the chance to grow and become more well-rounded by the end. As for the rest of the cast, while there isn’t a standout among them, they still contribute effectively to the film’s development.
There's a strong sense of familiarity here, and that’s where the film struggles. It leans heavily on standard wedding rom-com tropes and attempts to add a little extra chaos, but ultimately, it follows the same predictable path. Without its star power, this could have been just another film lost in the vast sea of streaming content. However, it serves as easy viewing if that's what you're in the mood for.
While You're Cordially Invited doesn’t bring anything new to the rom-com genre, it does offer an entertaining 100 minutes, helped along by Ferrell and Witherspoon’s performances. Its predictability is evident, but if you're looking for something light-hearted or just background viewing, this will certainly fit the bill.
Streaming now on Prime Video
