Rom-Com You’re Cordially Invited Is a Much Better Com Than Rom

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As a cinema enthusiast, I found myself cringing when Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon shared their first on-screen kiss in “You’re Cordially Invited”. This romantic film from writer-director Nicholas Stoller marks the first time these two talented comedians have worked together, but it’s hard to believe they haven’t before. Ferrell is renowned for his hilarious portrayals of genial doofuses, heroic fools, and oblivious blowhards on a grand scale, while Witherspoon excels in playing diminutive spitfires whose characters demand a more grounded context for their (often deserved or ruthless) triumphs over their doubters.

Both are incredibly gifted comedians, but they operate in different realms of comedy. In “You’re Cordially Invited” (available on Amazon Prime), they aren’t so much co-stars as the leads of two separate movies that occasionally intersect. It’s a pity that the plot twist that brings these two stories together necessitates their characters to mimic attraction. They don’t seem drawn together, but rather like magnets with aligned poles, they should repel each other when they get too close. That brief kiss lacked all sincerity and felt as if it would cause the actors to bounce away from each other forcefully on opposite sides of the screen.

In the film You’re Cordially Invited, the romantic elements are used sparingly and mainly towards the end, suggesting that Margot (played by Witherspoon) and Jim (played by Ferrell) end up together out of circumstance rather than passion. Director Stoller is known for his com-roms, or comedies with a romantic twist, such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Five-Year Engagement, and Bros. While it might have been more effective if the romance was eliminated entirely, Stoller’s skill at this genre still manages to make both halves of the film enjoyable.

Ferrell’s part of the storyline is a humorous exploration of a father-daughter relationship, where a highly devoted parent is alarmed by his daughter’s decision to marry her college boyfriend. On the other hand, Witherspoon’s plot revolves around a family reunion drama about a successful career woman who reverts to adolescent defensiveness in the company of her Atlanta relatives with whom she has mostly drifted apart. Despite the film’s two distinct halves, both are generally well-executed.

In this story, a mix-up with reservations causes Jim’s daughter Jenni and Margot’s sister Neve to have their weddings scheduled at the same small island inn over the same weekend. This misunderstanding sets off what eventually becomes a fierce competition for the nuptials. Despite my anticipation that You’re Cordially Invited would delve deeper into Jim, another of Stoller’s recurring characters who are good-natured but emotionally explosive, it is actually Margot and her family who become more prominent. Based in Los Angeles, Margot perceives herself as an escapee from a society steeped in snobbery and conservatism, with Neve being the only supportive figure among a group that criticizes her for her unconventional choices. However, as we delve deeper into Margot’s relationships, particularly with her mother who uses sweet words to disguise criticism (Celia Weston), it becomes less clear who is pushing whom away. Margot’s family members may be secretive and subtle in their criticisms, but her openness, which sometimes seems more like rudeness, is another way of being unkind. I wish there were more scenes showing how Margot’s work ties into her radical honesty, a theme that is intriguing but underdeveloped.

Margot’s conservative family, upholders of traditional southern values, are surprisingly humorous compared to the lively wedding party. They stand out because they offer a stark contrast, being a multiracial, boisterous group who enjoy White Claw and cornhole. Keyla Monterroso Mejia, who played an outstanding payday loan officer in ‘One of Them Days’, shines again as Jenni’s overprotective, party-loving maid of honor. However, the movie is packed with funny actors like Jimmy Tatro, who plays a Chippendale dancer for Rascal Flatts’ groom, almost like a prop waiting to be used. The film could have benefited from being less crowded so it could focus more on these characters and their amusing details. The script also includes some brilliant lines that the cast delivers effortlessly. For instance, I was impressed by Weston’s delivery of “the sins of the country are blamed on the South.”

Despite its humorous moments, the movie sometimes struggles to advance the plot. A subplot about suspected infidelity seems forced, serving only as a requirement for conflict to build towards the climax. The eventual pairing of Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon feels formulaic, like the story is bound by its genre, even if it sets its own boundaries.

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2025-01-31 22:54