It took way too long. Seriously. We’ve had decades of Reese Witherspoon dominating the rom-com space with that signature "type-A but lovable" energy, and Will Ferrell has been the king of oblivious, high-decibel man-children since the late nineties. Yet, somehow, these two never shared a movie screen until 2025.
If you grew up watching Legally Blonde and Step Brothers on a loop, the idea of a reese witherspoon will ferrell movies collaboration probably felt like a fever dream. But it finally happened. You’re Cordially Invited hit Prime Video on January 30, 2025, and it basically proved that movie star power still matters, even when the plot is a bit of a mess.
Honestly, the setup is pure chaos. You’ve got a destination wedding on a tiny island off the coast of Georgia. You’ve got a double-booked venue. And you’ve got two of the most stubborn characters ever written trying to ruin each other’s lives for the sake of "family."
Why it Took 24 Years to Get Here
The last time these two were in the same room for work was back in 2001. Reese was hosting Saturday Night Live, and Will was still a cast member. They did a few sketches together, but that was it. For over two decades, they moved in completely different Hollywood circles. Reese became a powerhouse producer and Oscar winner, while Will became... well, the guy who does Anchorman and Elf.
Reese actually admitted on The Tonight Show that working with Will was a "bucket list" item for her. She waited 24 years to get the call from director Nicholas Stoller. When he told her Will Ferrell was attached, she didn't even read the script before saying yes.
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That’s the kind of respect that usually leads to great chemistry. In You’re Cordially Invited, it really shows. They aren't playing a couple—thank God—because that might have felt forced. Instead, they are rival wedding planners (sort of). Reese is Margot, a high-strung reality TV producer planning her sister’s wedding, and Will is Jim, a widowed "superdad" trying to give his daughter the perfect send-off at the same resort where he got married years ago.
The Absolute Chaos of You’re Cordially Invited
The movie works because it leans into the "R-rated Bride Wars" vibe. It’s not a polite comedy. Within the first hour, people are calling each other "road whores," and there is a very questionable incident involving a live alligator in a hotel bed.
The Plot (Simplified)
- The Conflict: Jim (Ferrell) books the Palmetto House for his daughter Jenni. Margot (Witherspoon) books it for her sister Neve.
- The Mistake: The elderly innkeeper literally drops dead before she can record the double booking. Talk about a dark sight gag.
- The War: Neither side will budge. They have to share the venue, which leads to a literal battle for territory.
Nicholas Stoller, who directed Forgetting Sarah Marshall, knows how to handle this kind of "uncomfortable" humor. There’s a scene where Jim and his daughter Jenni (played by the hilarious Geraldine Viswanathan) sing a duet of "Islands in the Stream." It’s supposed to be sweet, but because it’s a romantic song, everyone else in the room is just deeply uncomfortable. It’s peak Ferrell.
Then you have Reese. She’s playing a spikier version of her usual persona. Margot is successful in L.A. but totally embarrassed by her "coarse" Southern family. She’s drinking way too much white wine and getting into dance-floor sparring matches with Will. It’s the most "unhinged" we’ve seen her in years, and honestly, it’s refreshing.
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Does the Movie Actually Hold Up?
Look, critics were kind of split. Some called it "overstuffed," and yeah, there are like fifteen subplots. You’ve got a Jonas Brother showing up as a singing pastor (he sings Creed, for some reason), a Chippendales dancer fiancé played by Jimmy Tatro, and a perpetually drunk sister played by stand-up comic Leanne Morgan.
But if you just want to see two legends be petty, it’s a goldmine.
The movie is less about the weddings and more about two people who are terrified of being lonely. Jim is scared of his daughter "leaving the nest," and Margot is scared that she’s pushed her family so far away that she has nobody left. It’s got a surprising amount of heart buried under all the slapstick.
What Most People Missed
There are a few "blink and you'll miss it" moments that make this project special.
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- The Cameos: Aside from Nick Jonas, Wyatt Russell shows up as a "Zebra Headed" dancer on Margot's reality show.
- Family Ties: Reese’s actual son, Tennessee, has a tiny cameo. She called it an "Easter egg" in interviews.
- The Rating: This isn't a Hallmark movie. It’s rated R. The insults are sharper, the drinking is heavier, and the physical comedy is way more aggressive than you’d expect from a wedding flick.
How to Watch the Best of Reese and Will
If you’ve already finished You’re Cordially Invited and you’re looking for more reese witherspoon will ferrell movies, you’re out of luck on the "joint projects" front. This is currently their only film together. However, you can see the DNA of this movie in their previous work.
If you like "Aggressive Reese," go back and watch Election or even Sweet Home Alabama. If you want "Frazzled Dad Will," Daddy’s Home is the obvious companion piece.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
If you’re expecting a cinematic masterpiece, maybe skip it. But if you’ve had a long week and you want to see Will Ferrell wrestle an alligator while Reese Witherspoon screams at him? It’s perfect. It feels like a throwback to those mid-2000s studio comedies that don't really get made anymore.
It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s occasionally very weird. But it reminds us why these two are movie stars in the first place. They can take a predictable script and make it feel like an event.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
- Check Prime Video: Make sure you’re looking for the 2025 release, as there are a few other movies with similar titles.
- Watch the SNL 2001 clips: If you can find the sketches where they first worked together, it’s a fun trip down memory lane.
- Look for the Soundtrack: The "Islands in the Stream" cover is actually on Spotify, and it’s just as awkward to listen to as it is to watch.
The movie ends with a big dance number (of course it does), and while it hits all the usual rom-com tropes, it does so with enough "juvenile" humor to keep things interesting. Sometimes, all you need is two icons behaving badly at a wedding to make a Friday night better.