You need to watch Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon's chaotic new rom-com.

When I heard Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon were finally sharing the screen in Prime Video's new comedy You're Cordially Invited, it sounded like a match made in heaven.

After all, they're both absolute icons in their own right — Ferrell with a resume of comedy classics and Witherspoon being literal rom-com royalty. 

The premise alone was enough to get me excited. As a certified Bride Wars fan-girl, the idea of two warring wedding parties is just perfection.

Watch the trailer for You're Cordially Invited. Article continues after video. 

The film follows Jim (Ferrell), a doting but overprotective father whose daughter's dream wedding venue accidentally double-books with another celebration.

The other wedding is being planned by Margot (Witherspoon), a TV producer who is estranged from everyone in her family aside from her sister, the bride.

What starts as a simple scheduling conflict escalates into a delightfully unhinged game of one-upmanship and sabotage.

After agreeing to use the venue together, things get messy real fast when a series of misunderstandings leads to a ruined wedding ceremony. And from there, the gloves are off: it's a full-blown war between the two leading characters. 

First off, Ferrell and Witherspoon are fantastic. Let's start there.

The best part of the movie has got to be watching these two comedic powerhouses bounce off one another. Ferrell brings his signature man-child energy to Jim, a dad who just can't accept that his little girl is growing up. While Witherspoon absolutely nails it as Margot, who is slowly losing control of her carefully constructed composure amongst the quirks and criticisms from her extended family. 

"Even from the very first day we were on set… I literally looked over and thought in my mind, 'This is like bucket list. I get to work with Will Ferrell in my life. I am so lucky,'" Witherspoon revealed at a recent press conference Mamamia attended.

"We just clicked right away," Ferrell added.

"I think a lot of that is in the writing that Nick had with the characters and the dynamic that was set up between the two families. Reese and I approach the work the same way. Even though it's a comedy, it's about the characters."

Witherspoon and Ferrell play warring enemies. Image: Prime Video. 

The movie quickly descends into chaos, and it's really the performances from the two leads that grounds it in reality.

I will also add that the most charming aspect of the chemistry between Ferrell and Witherspoon is in the scenes where they are at war. Whether it's watching Ferrell's evil smile when he's plotting to ruin the wedding ceremony at the dock or Witherspoon beating her chest while chanting "We are going to chaos-monkey the motherf***ing shit out of him" (it's as chaotic as it sounds), it's a real hoot watching these two tear each other apart. 

Where their interactions fall a bit short, in my opinion, is in the third act. Once the romantic plot is introduced between these two, things start to feel a little strange.

Given the emotionally-stunted nature of Jim throughout the entire movie, it's hard to envision him connecting with Margot on any emotional level. And given the lack of emotional depth when it comes to their prior interactions, I would have happily settled with a friendship. 

Witherspoon plays a Type A TV broadcaster. Image: Prime Video.

I can't talk about this movie without acknowledging the stellar supporting cast. From Leanne Morgan as the outspoken, slightly inappropriate sister to Celia Weston as Margot's overly-critical mother, the entire ensemble is hilarious.

There's something truly special about the way this film comes together — and a lot of that magic comes down to its perfectly curated instrumental soundtrack and masterful editing. From the moment the opening music montage begins, I was taken right back to those beloved rom-coms we all rushed to see at the cinema in the early 2000s. It's so nostalgic and so good. 

One thing I would have loved to see in the film is higher stakes. Given the pacing, at times, the film felt like it was tapping the brakes just when it should be flooring it. For a film about two people as unhinged as Jim and Margot, their schemes feel a bit... tame? The film builds to what should be an epic showdown at the wedding reception, but instead of going full scorched-earth, we get a relatively tame resolution. 

You're Cordially invited is the ultimate chaotic comedy. Image: Prime Video. 

All in all, You're Cordially Invited is a fun, family affair and ticks all the boxes for a light-hearted comedy. Yes, some of the jokes are predictable, and yes, you can see the ending coming from a mile away. But isn't that what we want from a feel-good comedy? It's like comfort food – familiar, satisfying, and leaves you feeling good. 

While it might not be winning any Oscars, You're Cordially Invited is just a bit of fun and it's worth RSVPing yes to this one.

Feature Image: Prime.