⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rated R | 109 minutes

I’m a big fan of cinema… actually going to a movie theater and watching a film on the largest, most comfortable screen possible. Sure, many people can now bring part of that experience home with giant XXL 4K screens… but there’s still something special about watching a film in an audience full of strangers, enjoying the same experience together.

“You’re Cordially Invited” from MGM is one of those movies where we can share a multitude of laughs together. However, it’s not being released in theaters. It’s exclusive to Amazon Prime Video beginning Friday, January 31, 2025.

Streaming-only for thsi film is an odd choice to me. Public screenings for this film starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrel were held in theaters across the country, but starting today, you can only watch it at home. I think you still should – it’s very funny – but I do wish you could go and see it with your closest strangers since I think we all need a bit of shared fun these days.

Rant aside, you should check out “You’re Cordially Invited” this weekend on Amazon Prime Video. Reese and Will have surprising chemistry on-screen as two people from different backgrounds but with the shared experience of someone they each deeply care about getting married.

Weddings are stressful enough, as we all know, but this film steps it up a notch – what would happen if you had a venue double-booked on a small remote island with only one venue? Sure, that’s a far-fetched premise, but I assure you this has probably happened somewhere in this country. Regardless, Will and Reese keep it entertaining as they each set out to sabotage the other and ruin the special day for their respective relatives.

It’s part “Home Alone”-style hijinks and part romantic comedy. This is a wedding-themed movie after all. Some of the comedy is completely over-the-top supported by an excellent cast featuring Jack McBrayer as the exasperated hotel manager, Fortune Feimster as the overzealous water taxi captain, Jimmy Tatro as the “trashy” fianceé set to marry Reese’s sister played by Meredith Hagner.

Plenty of comedy powerhouses drive this battle between the families who are determined to have their special days be as special as possible at the expense of the other. It’s Rated R, but that’s mostly due to spicy language.

A bit predictable at times, “You’re Cordially Invited” from director Nicholas Stoller still brings a fresh set of comedic moments even if we are likely to reach the end result you may expect. It’s a fun ride getting there and there’s nothing better than a film to help us escape reality and laugh at situations that would otherwise cause us mental breakdowns.