Nicholas Stoller’s latest rom-com flips the traditional “date night movie” on its head by skipping theaters entirely for a 2025 Prime Video release. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, the film explores wedding chaos when two determined adults clash over a double-booked island venue. As their carefully planned celebrations collide, sparks fly—but not always the romantic kind.
Ferrell plays Jim, a widowed father devoted to his daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan). When she announces her engagement to Oliver (Stony Blyden), Jim books the idyllic Palmetto House, where he once married Jenni’s late mother. Meanwhile, Witherspoon’s Margot, a high-powered Los Angeles TV producer, is planning her sister Nev’s (Meredith Hagner) wedding at the same venue. With strong personalities at the helm, a shared space is bound to create tension.
Stoller delivers sharp humor, especially through Margot’s dysfunctional Southern family. Celia Weston shines as Margot’s judgmental mother, while Leanne Morgan steals scenes with hilariously unfiltered one-liners. Jim, meanwhile, strikes an odd dynamic with Jenni, whose relationship with her father sometimes raises eyebrows. Ferrell’s signature charm keeps this subplot from becoming too uncomfortable, though the film does hint at unresolved personal secrets.
While Witherspoon and Ferrell excel at comedic sabotage, their chemistry falters in moments that nudge toward romance. The film hits a few clunky beats near its conclusion, including a gratuitous singalong finale that feels misplaced despite a handful of entertaining cameos, including Peyton Manning and Nick Jonas.
Ultimately, You’re Cordially Invited thrives on its spirited conflicts and vibrant ensemble cast. Though the ending stumbles, the journey offers enough laughter and heart to keep audiences entertained from start to finish.
You’re Cordially Invited will be available from streaming on Prime Video on January 30, 2025.