We’re a little early for wedding season, but not too early for romantic comedies. As the calendar prepares to roll over to February, it makes sense to get some love stories on streaming and in theaters. That’s exactly what we get with You’re Cordially Invited, a new streaming film on Prime Video. At least, that’s what we’re supposed to get.
The film tells the story of two couples getting ready for their big day and two special people in their lives determined to make it the best. But things don’t go according to plan.
For Jim (Will Ferrell), his daughter is his whole life. He’s raised Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) on his own since his wife passed. Now that she’s getting married, he’s determined to make her day special. He makes a reservation at the same place he got married for June 1. But, before it can be fully noted, the owner passes away.
Meanwhile, Margot (Reese Witherspoon) is an outsider with her family. She’s a successful reality TV producer living in Los Angeles, while the rest of her family lives in the South. The only one she’s close to is her little sister, Neve (Meredith Hagner). When Neve announces she’s getting married, Margot decides to make sure it goes off without a hitch. That means booking the little island where they went with their grandmother as girls. The date is set for June 1.
When June 1st arrives, both Jim and Margot show up with their wedding party. It seems the resort accidentally double-booked, leaving both parties scrambling. Reluctantly they agree to share the space and try to make that work. But things don’t go according to plan. Still, despite the strain, might sparks start to fly?
This film comes from writer/director Nicholas Stoller, who knows a thing or two about comedies. He was behind both Neighbors films with Zac Efron and Seth Rogen and gave us Bros in 2022. This is another comedy that brings an unexpected romance, though that’s far from the focus of the film.
The film has a good cast, including Jack McBrayer, Celia Weston, and Jimmy Tatro in addition to the others. There are some fun ideas and some amusing sequences that help add life to the film. The back-and-forth squabbles feel a little predictable, but the tacked-on romance that comes in Act 3 feels a bit disjointed.
Overall, the film has some potential. It’s got a good cast and makes good use of Ferrell and Witherspoon, two solid leading performers. But the comedy isn’t consistent, and the story isn’t consistently engaging. It also feels like it takes too long to get where it’s going. It’s a decent streaming watch but hardly a must-see film.
You’re Cordially Invited is now streaming on Prime Video.