You’re Cordially Invited

You’re Cordially Invited plunges headfirst into the delightful chaos of wedding weekends, packed with mishaps, rivalries and an unexpected romance at an island resort on Lake Oconee, Georgia. Directed by rom-com veteran Nicholas Stoller, the film’s premise is simple yet captivating: two couples – college sweethearts Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Oliver (Stony Blyden) and Southern belle Neve (Meredith Hagner) and her exotic dancer fiancé Dixon (Jimmy Tatro) – are forced to share a wedding venue after a catastrophic double booking.

While the brides and grooms navigate the usual trials of pre-wedding jitters and family drama, the real fireworks come from their self-appointed wedding planners. Jenni’s widowed father, Jim (Will Ferrell), and Neve’s Hollywood executive sister, Margot (Reese Witherspoon), clash in an escalating battle of egos as they compete to outdo one another in crafting the perfect big day for their loved ones. Their rivalry – a mix of hard-hitting insults and petty sabotage – forms the heart of the film. 

Unsurprisingly, Ferrell leans into his signature hapless charm, while Witherspoon delivers a pitch-perfect take on Margot’s high-strung, Type-A spirit. Their chemistry evolves organically, beginning with a spark of attraction at first sight, which quickly devolves into a heated rivalry, followed by reluctant allyship, and eventually something more by the end of the weekend. While their romance is endearing enough, the real magic lies in the build-up of their comedic interplay, from sabotaged floral arrangements to a scene-stealing mishap involving a hilariously misplaced CGI crocodile. That said, not all of the humour lands as smoothly as hoped. Some jokes lean too heavily on tired tropes, and a few of the broader gags – like Jenni’s hapless sorority sisters misusing terms like “gaslighting” and “toxic” and references to incest – feel more forced than funny. The satirical pokes at Margot’s Southern family are far sharper, lampooning over-the-top hospitality and laughably absurd double-barreled names with a biting wit.

In the end, You’re Cordially Invited is exactly what it sets out to be: a feel-good, frothy story that reinvigorates the classic rom-com formula. With no intention of breaking new ground, the movie confidently embraces every cliché, offering an undeniably fun reminder that the most memorable moments in life often arise from the most unexpected of places.

Christina Yang

You’re Cordially Invited is released on Prime Video on 30^th January 2025.

Watch the trailer for You’re Cordially Invited here: