Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell have been stars on parallel paths for more than a quarter-century now.
Witherspoon first made waves in supporting roles in the 1990s before striking box-office gold with “Legally Blonde” et al., winning Oscar for “Walk the Line” and later becoming a TV icon via series such as “Big Little Lies” and “The Morning Show.”
Ferrell burst onto the scene with “Saturday Night Live” in the 1990s, starred in some of the most beloved comedies of the 2000s and has even done solid dramatic work in films such as “Stranger Than Fiction” and “Downhill.”
Their professional paths crossed just once, when Witherspoon hosted Episode 1 of “SNL” Season 27 (she and Ferrell lampooned “The Little Mermaid” in a musical number that turned lyrically graphic, raunchy and hilarious) — but they finally team up for a feature-length project in the winning and quite dopey and consistently funny comedy “You’re Cordially Invited.” It’s the pairing we never knew we needed, and it leaves us hoping these two exceptionally likable talents will work together again, and maybe one more time after that.
Writer-director Nicholas Stoller has been delivering the goods on high-concept, star-laden, R-rated comedies for the better part of two decades, from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) to “Neighbors” (2014) to “Bros” (2022), and he comes through again with “You’re Cordially Invited,” which plays a bit like an over-the-top episode of “The White Lotus” without the murder-y part.
The set-up here is made for situational comedy: A high-powered reality TV executive planning her younger sister’s perfect wedding and a widowed father to a bride-to-be planning his daughter’s nuptials discover the two destination weddings have been double-booked. Something’s gotta give!
Reese Witherspoon’s Margot is an L.A.-based TV exec, in charge of shows such as “It It Dead?” and “Dirty Thirties,” and Meredith Hagner gives off distinct (and excellent) Kate Hudson vibes as Margot’s sister Neve, who is engaged to the amiable Dixon (Jimmy Tatro). When Margot and her extended family (most of whom she’s estranged from) arrive at the Palmetto Inn, they run into Will Ferrell’s Jim, his daughter Jenni (the always wonderful Geraldine Viswanathan), Jenni’s fiancé Oliver (Stony Blyden) and THEIR wedding party, with the hapless hotel manager Leslie (Jack McBrayer) flop-sweating as they all discover the snafu that led to the double-booking.
Control freaks Margot and Jim butt heads at first, but they agree they’ll share the venue, alternating indoor and outdoor locales for the rehearsal dinners, timing the ceremonies on the dock to take place on either side of the sunset, etc. What could possibly go right?
“You’re Cordially Invited” checks off multiple Wedding Comedy boxes. Oh no, what terrible timing for a rainstorm! Hmmm, that cake is really close to the dance floor, I hope nothing happens to it! Is it time for a karaoke duet? Hey, I’m worried about whether that dock can hold so many people. It’s all about the execution of the gags, and the obligatory sentimental scenes sprinkled here and there.
Ferrell and Witherspoon play off each other with impeccable timing, and the supporting cast (which includes a couple of celebrity cameos) is universally terrific. Yes, this is the kind of movie where during the closing credits, the cast members belt out the infectious 1980s pop hit that was already featured in the main story, and watching Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon dancing and singing together is even better than that time they lampooned “The Little Mermaid” on “Saturday Night Live.”