Jim (played by Will Ferrell) cherishes his only daughter, Jenni (portrayed by Geraldine Viswanathan), more than anything else. However, when Jenni visits Jim, she brings along her current boyfriend, Oliver (Stony Blyden), leading to an unexpected turn of events. Although Jim is excited to see Jenni, his happiness is short-lived when she reveals that she and Oliver are engaged.
Filled with shock and sadness at the thought of losing his only daughter, Jim tries to remain supportive and offers to arrange what he believes will be the perfect wedding venue. However, things take a turn for the worse when the person on the other end of his wedding reception booking suffers a heart attack unbeknownst to Jim, leaving the booking incomplete. Meanwhile, Jim blissfully believes the booking is complete and the venue secure.
Margot (played by Reese Witherspoon) is also planning a wedding for a precious family member. While visiting Margot at her job producing reality television shows, her sister Neve (Meredith Hagner) announces she is engaged. Margot offers to help with the wedding, including arranging the venue. Margot secures the desired date at the dream venue, and the planning for the wedding begins.

But when Jim and Margot arrive at their dream wedding venue with their guests and the bridal parties, they discover that the venue has been double-booked. Both Jim and Margot are annoyed and frustrated, not only with the situation but also with each other. The question remains: Can they put their differences aside and work together to create the wedding of their family’s dreams?
You’re Cordially Invited is a loud comedy, which is typical and expected given that Will Ferrell is the lead actor. The film features a continuous barrage of random one-liners and witty jokes referencing pop culture. It showcases characters who often express frustration by yelling loudly or swearing in a humorous yet threatening manner. For those who might not know, the film was directed by Nicholas Stoller, who has directed films such as Neighbours (2014), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), and the animated feature Storks (2016).

I found several great comedic moments in this film, particularly when Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon engage in banter and disagreements. The side characters also added to the humour with their comedic timing and random one-liners. However, this type of film is nothing new, especially for Will Ferrell, who does what he does best. I still enjoyed the film, even though it felt all too familiar.
I loved the premise of the plot. It was fun and different while presenting significant challenges and frustrations for the two leads. Although it’s a comedy film, I was genuinely interested in seeing how the story would unfold, especially regarding a potential romance between the characters Jim and Margot. While the primary plot offers plenty of opportunities for fun, the film sometimes feels drawn out, and I felt that various side characters received more screen time than I would have preferred. Additionally, some elements of the finale were vague or lacked depth, which was disappointing. I understand it’s a comedy, but there’s nothing worse than leaving a film without fully understanding everything, including the key choices and motivations of the characters.
Overall, even though the comedy style and performances are quite familiar, I still enjoyed You’re Cordially Invited. The comedic situations and plot were entertaining, and the chemistry between Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon was electric. The concept was so engaging that I was eager to see how it would unfold, especially whether the film would take a romantic turn. While it is an enjoyable comedy, it unfortunately feels much longer than necessary, which hampers its ability to bring everything together for the finale. Additionally, the film is weighed down by subplots and side characters, making it clear that You’re Cordially Invited could have benefited from a tighter runtime.
You’re Cordially Invited (2025 is Available on Prime Video from January 30th!
FILM SCORE: 6.0/10



Published: 28th November 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden

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