We’ve been missing movies like You’re Cordially Invited – streaming on Prime Video from Jan 31. Dominic Corry previews the Will Ferrell/Reese Witherspoon comedy – and why its style is so welcome.
The gradual de-emphasising of the comedy movie in mainstream culture is a widely-acknowledged and perhaps over-discussed phenomenon. I am not here to beat that drum. Well, maybe a bit.
But what I am more excited to espouse is the joy of seeing a film that exists to showcase and have fun with the well-established on-screen personas of its leads, and indeed its deep supporting cast.
Because that is what You’re Cordially Invited feels like, and it’s a great argument for making more of these films.
As the “movie star” as a concept has waned, so has the kind of film that makes the best use of movie stars. The most popular movies these days are celebrated more for the (often literally faceless) fictional characters that populate them than the actors who bring those characters to life.
It’s natural for actors to want to showcase their range, especially the successful ones, many of whom apparently consider repeating themselves to be the greatest of creative sins. But there used to be a much larger number of celebrated performers who were happy to excel within their established wheelhouse. To play directly to their audience. It’s how movie stars are cultivated in the first place.
This, of course, still happens, but within a much narrower niche. Like many of my complaints about modern media, the dearth of personality-driven films is a direct result of the death of the monoculture. Which is why its so refreshing when something like You’re Cordially Invited comes along and reminds us all what is still possible.
Will Ferrell plays Jim, devoted widowed dad to Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan). When Jenni announces that she is getting married, Jim is excited to book the picturesque island destination wedding venue where his own nuptials took place.
But in the kind of brazen contrivance that we see far too little of these days, the elderly woman who took Jim’s booking over the phone dies moments after speaking to him, which means that Margot (Reese Witherspoon) is able to book the same venue for the wedding of her beloved younger sister Neve (Meredith Hagner).
I’m sure you can see where this is going, but again, sometimes it’s nice when a movie tells you where it is going, and goes there. With gusto.
When the two wedding parties show up at the same time, a whole bunch of low stakes chaos ensues, and it’s a perfect platform to showcase the comedic sensibilities of its two leads.
Ferrell has nothing left to prove in the comedy arena, and you’d be forgiven for thinking he might have nowhere left to go in this arena as well, but by just being… Will—blustery, sweary, earnest, enraged, pathetic Will—he constantly knocks it out of the park here.
If you base Witherspoon’s apparent self-awareness solely on The Morning Show, you could be forgiven for thinking she doesn’t possess any, but she demonstrates in You’re Cordially Invited a razor-sharp grasp of her own strengths as a performer, and mines much comedic gold from the fussy, control-freak, uptight Southern firecracker persona that comes naturally to her.
And like all great Hollywood team-ups, the results are greater than the sum of their parts, with Ferrell and Witherspoon’s contrasting personas clashing loudly and hilariously with escalating comedic (and yes, romantic) tension.
You’re Cordially Invited‘s bona fides as a throwback crowd-pleaser are enhanced by its bountiful supporting cast, many of whom could carry a comedy movie on their own, and in many cases, have done so.
Energetic Aussie talent Viswanathan (who broke out in Blockers and subsequently kicked ass in The Broken Hearts Gallery and Drive-Away Dolls) has incredible comedic chemistry with Ferrell and their oddly intense father/daughter creates some of the film’s funniest moments.
Hagner continues to rise in well-deserved prominence and follows up her recent career-best work in Bad Monkey by almost stealing the movie out from under Witherspoon—whoever cast these two as sisters is a genius.
Stand-up Leanne Morgan, as Margot’s sister-in-law, Gwyneth, makes a considerable impression here as well, expect to see much more of her in the near future.
Jack McBrayer, Jimmy Tatro and memorable Curb Your Enthusiasm supporting player Keyla Monterroso Mejia all contribute to the macro jocularity.
There’s nothing revolutionary happening in You’re Cordially Invited, but by feeling like something Dan Ackroyd and Goldie Hawn might’ve starred in in 1987, it brings back a welcome large scale frivolity to the mainstream comedy movie. More please.
