Author: Shari K. Green

If things have gotten a bit tough lately, or life has you down, this movie is the cure. I wasn’t sure whether I’d like these two particular actors in a movie together, wasn’t sure whether it made any sense, but I left certain reservations at the door, sat in my seat, and decided to give them a chance.

Will Ferrell is playing Jim, the father of the bride-to-be. He’s shocked when his only child and baby daughter, Jenni (she’s in her twenties), is getting married. Suresh Viswanathan plays Jenni, and her character is terrific when dealing with this delusional man. But, when he takes a breath and accepts that he can’t be the only man in her life, he decides he’ll be the best pilot any wedding has ever produced. Widowed, he has no co-pilot until fate somewhat brings him one in Margot, played by Reece Witherspoon. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Reece Witherspoon is the older sister of bride-to-be Neve (Meredith Hagner). Upon arrival, it’s discovered that someone accidentally booked Margot and Jim’s parties at the same venue for the entire weekend and the weddings. The place means a lot to them, and neither will budge on their weekend. Everyone is there and things are set to go. That said, all will be fine, right? Ferrell is in this, remember? How well do you think things are going to go?

Leslie at the front desk, played by Jack McBrayer of “30 Rock,” is bullied but lets them fight it out for the space—two weddings in the same venue at the same place. What could go wrong?! The Inn and wedding hall he runs won’t hold them all, but that’s on them. Margot and Jim hurl insults at one another until an agreement is met.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller, who directed “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is up to giving you the same sort of and amount of entertainment as in his previous works. If you like his work, you’ll easily have a good time watching this romantic comedy. Though he has gone out of the way to make you feel as if you were invited to one of these gorgeous weddings, comedy is the operative word. You’re not so much seeing the romance, but it’s building. You’ll see a hint of something right before the scene during the end credits that you have to stay and watch.

In “You’re Cordially Invited,” excellent supporting players, such as standup comics Celia Weston and Leanne Morgan, are members of Margot’s family. I’ll stop there. If I were to go into all players, we’d be here all day because they were filled with character, but for time, I’ll say that while watching this, you’ll feel as if you were watching the perfect SNL episode, complete with bridesmaids who are willing to beat the living hell out of Jim if they have to, to keep things running the way their lady insists they do.

The two families are different, and an attempt has been made to keep them separate. This doesn’t happen, and they’re used in Jim and Margot’s game of who can win over the weekend. Margot is from Atlanta, and the entire southern theme is exploited exquisitely. From thick accents and verbiage to the typical unannounced rainstorm they have in the South, southern culture is utilized better than I’ve seen in a long time.  

Shenanigans abound with this storyline and these actors running around in front of the camera! Cameos by Peyton Manning, Nick Jonas, and several others of exceptional talent make this an even better movie, as they don’t miss a beat. I wanted more of them, but the best I can manage is a second watching, which I’ll happily do. The reason the song “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton makes it into the movie won’t soon leave you. The audience I watched this with enjoyed examining why they shouldn’t hear the famous tune in this setting. By the way, you will sing it in the car on the way home.  

I thought Will Ferrell wrestling an alligator would be the moment it “jumped the shark,” but nope. It never really did. Sure, there are some script issues, and the movie can be overly silly, but that’s the point. So, get a ticket, sit in the dark theater, and leave life behind you as the lights go down. That’s what this particular movie is for. And! It reaches the goal of a good night out. I leave you with this… “The wife.”

Releases today, Streaming on Amazon Prime!