Lamar Reviews - "You’re Cordially Invited" (Airdate 2/21/2025)

Will Ferrell is one of the bravest actors to ever attempt comedy! He is not afraid to try anything, and when he does, he goes at it whole hog! If he gets it right, The Other Guys, Talladega Nights, the Legend of Ricky Bobby, and Elf, nobody can touch him. If it’s wrong, Semi-Pro, Holmes and Watson, and The Ladies Man, he goes down in flames with his head still held high. No regrets. This is why he is always remembered for his successes and immediately forgiven for his failures. 

Reese Witherspoon is wonderful in all kind of movies, Election, Walk the Line, and especially Rom/Coms, Legally Blonde. What works great for her is her chemistry, except in this movie, with Will Ferrell. What they have is not chemistry, it is anti-chemistry. But more on that later.

Will Ferrell plays Jim a single parent, who is very much into his daughter’s life, way into it, way, way into it, in a sorta’ creepy way. His daughter is Jenni, and she is played by Geraldine Viswanathan.

Jenni is getting married to Oliver, played by Stony Blyden. Jim has taken it upon himself to give her the perfect wedding at a small Georgia Island that he has a history with.

Reese Witherspoon plays Margot, a reality television producer who has no time for her family and is estranged from everyone but her little sister Neve, played by Meredith Hagner. Neve is also getting married and the only place they want is the same Georgia Island. And both want it on the same weekend. The venue can only handle one wedding at a time and they are double booked.

As opposing parents Witherspoon and Ferrell are entertaining but when the movie heads down the road of the possibility of them having any type of actual relationship, it goes straight into the ditch! The idea of these two in a romantic relationship is unsettling to say the least.

They say the movie is 1 hour and 49 minutes, it seemed a lot longer than that! Rated R for language throughout and some sexual references.

It is not like there a lack of talented cast. Jack McBrayer, who played Kenneth Parcel on 30 rock is the venue manager and he is fantastic as always! Celia Weston who was born right here in Spartanburg SC, stole every scene she was in as Margot’s mom. Leanne Morgan never disappoints as she branches out from her standup to be in this movie. Nick Jonas makes a cameo, why I’m not sure, and the always hilarious Fortune Feimster does not get the chance to be anywhere as funny as she usually is.

Don’t get me wrong, there were quite a few laugh out loud moments until the unfortunate decision was made to put Will and Reese together in a romantic way. Honestly, I don’t think if they had been brother and sister it could have been any creepier. And the whole alligator thing was stupid. If you have Prime it’s free on Amazon Prime, and I still don’t recommend it.

My Score: 2 Buds