You’re Cordially Invited

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To everyone’s surprise, viewers enthusiastically accepted invitations to stream Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon’s new comedy film, “You’re Cordially Invited,” which premiered on Prime Video on January 30th. Intriguingly, the movie directed by Nicholas Stoller, despite being panned by critics, currently tops both the overall and movies charts of Prime Video (according to FlixPatrol as of February 1st).

Regrettably, the collaboration between Ferrell and Witherspoon on television failed to impress most critics. In The Hollywood Reporter’s critique, Frank Scheck remarks that it was an unremittingly crude and humorless production, even with the star power of Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, as well as a supporting cast brimming with comedic talent, they couldn’t salvage it. Peter Debruge from Variety echoes this sentiment.

The release on Prime Video is designed to perform well regardless of the scale, yet it fails to capture the intended chemistry between its actors effectively, especially in an unnecessary and somewhat uncomfortable postscript.

A.A. Dowd took things a step further in IGN’s review (5/10 stars) by saying:

I’ve received a warm invitation, but it seems there are an excessive number of eccentric sidekicks, leading to a plethora of over-the-top antics. Moreover, there’s an abundance of saccharine emotion that risks overshadowing the tension between these frantic saboteurs as they push the line towards unnecessary harshness.

MovieWeb’s review (2.5 out of 5 stars) states that the movie titled “‘You’re Cordially Invited‘” fails to live up to its potential despite boasting a strong cast. This opinion has been shared by many since the film was released on streaming platforms at the end of January, and it currently has a score of 47% on the Tomatometer based on 64 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Sadly, viewers who have watched the new comedy are not finding it appealing either.

Audiences Are Also Disappointed in ‘You’re Cordially Invited’

It’s highly unlikely that anyone would mix up the phrase “You’re Cordially Invited” with one of Will Ferrell’s or Reese Witherspoon’s most acclaimed films. Unfortunately, the upcoming comedy “You’re Cordially Invited” is receiving harsh criticism, even more so than the professionals. In fact, one viewer named Britt H. on Rotten Tomatoes referred to it as “‘hot garbage’“. Another spectator, Adam R., expressed his displeasure in these words: “You’re Cordially Invited is a disaster.

This movie’s script and plot are disappointingly poor. Despite solid performances by Witherspoon and Ferrell, the film lacks genuine humor and its concept is rather silly. It’s another uninspired comedy added to the streaming platform’s list. The only saving grace is the star quality of the two main actors, but everything else feels lackluster.

Another streamer’s disappointment and wit both shined through when he (Ken W.) wrote on RT:

Please burn this film. You’d be doing everyone in the credits the biggest favor of their career.

David B. added:

This movie was incredibly bad, with not a single appealing character to be found. Usually, I’m a fan of Reese Witherspoon, but her portrayal was terrible. Normally, Will Ferrell makes me laugh, but this time his character was downright creepy and unfunny. I didn’t find myself laughing even once. The only enjoyable aspect of the film for me was Reese Witherspoon’s singing during the end credits.”

“The movie was a real dud, as it lacked any likable characters. Typically, I appreciate Reese Witherspoon’s acting, but her role in this film was poorly executed. Normally, Will Ferrell cracks me up, but his character here was just plain unsettling and not amusing at all. There wasn’t a single laugh to be had from me. The only part I enjoyed was Reese Witherspoon’s singing during the closing credits.”

Both versions convey the same message in a natural and easy-to-read manner.

Due to these unfavorable responses, it seems highly unlikely that “You’re Cordially Invited” will ever be deemed “Verified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, the collaboration between Ferrell and Witherspoon only garnered a 37% score on the Popcornmeter (previously known as the RT audience score), based on over 250 reviews. This is significantly lower than the film’s 47% Tomatometer rating, indicating that the audience’s response was even more negative than the critics’.

Given the mixed reception of “You’re Cordially Invited,” it seems Prime Video has room for improvement as we head into 2025. Interestingly, the streaming platform has managed to secure some positive developments in its competition with Netflix. And let’s not forget, fans can look forward to the premiere of “Invincible” Season 3 on Prime Video starting February 6th.

In addition, there are many other intriguing shows coming up on the streaming service, such as Season 3 of Reacher (February 20) and Season 3 of The Wheel of Time (March 13). Unfortunately, the recent performances by Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon didn’t live up to their past successes like Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Legally Blonde respectively. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, You’re Cordially Invited is now available on Prime Video for streaming.

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2025-02-02 19:04