By Lynn Venhaus

A silly but harmless light-hearted comedy, “You’re Cordially Invited” is a low expectation streaming movie that turns out to be a welcome diversion for the winter doldrums.

If I consistently laugh out loud during a predictable rom-com, then I consider it a victory. Because this is a personality-driven project, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are in their comfort zone – he plays the doofus helicopter widower dad Jim who is well-meaning and she’s Margot, an uptight high-strung career woman who is estranged from her family. Sound familiar?

His only daughter, Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) is getting married, and so is Margot’s sister Neve (Meredith Hagner), and they have both booked a charming small inn on an idyllic island for the same weekend. Naturally, chaos ensues.

In wanting to throw unforgettable celebrations for their loved ones, the pair go head-to-head as they stop at nothing to make that happen. Both are tightly wound and kick it into high gear with their competing egos.

On the other hand, their relatives are horrified at their acting out, which makes for more awkward situations. But the families try to make the best of sharing the venue.

The venue is picture-perfect gorgeous, which is the real resort Lake Oconee, about 75 miles east of Atlanta, subbing for the fictional Palmetto House.

Of course, the story is goofy, featuring some good slapstick bits, but also stretched thin (and goes a tad too long – 110 minutes), but it’s fun to watch this ensemble.

Ferrell and Witherspoon have never worked together before, but they both have that Def-Con 5 tendency to go over-the-top, which suits their roles. They display their customary crisp comic timing, which makes their skirmishes funny.

Witherspoon’s job as a reality TV producer also provides some laughs, including a Bobby Moynihan-hosted show called “Is It Dead?”

The two brides-to-be are charming and sweet, unfortunately caught in the middle of the shenanigans.

The supporting players include Jack McBrayer, who was a hoot as Kenneth the page on “30 Rock,” as the inn proprietor; hilarious Tennessee comedienne Leanne Morgan who dryly delivers some of the best lines as Margot’s lonely sister Gwyneth; comedian Rory Scovel as her brother Colton; and Jimmy Tatro and Stony Blyden as the two grooms, Dixon and Oliver. Dixon works as a Chippendales dancer, so you know what will happen there.

Character actress Celia Weston hits the right notes as the judgmental Southern family matriarch Flora and Keyla Monterroso Mejia is loud as the excitable party-girl Heather, Jenni’s maid of honor. The bridesmaids, while not in many scenes, are their own comedy troupe.

There are also a couple surprise cameos that add to the fun. And the music soundtrack is an important element of the film. You’ll never quite hear the Dolly Parton-Kenny Rogers duet “Islands in the Stream” the same way again.

Nicholas Stoller, who wrote and directed “You’re Cordially Invited,” has made some crowd-pleasing hits including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Neighbors” and “The Five-Year Engagement.” He also wrote “The Muppets” and its sequel.

The story gets a tad schmaltzy wrapping up all the families’ turmoil. Turns out Jim and Margot have more in common in their fear of being alone and not needed. The family connections add some warmth and sincerity.

Weddings are often fertile ground for wacky comedies, among them: “The Wedding Planner,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Shotgun Wedding,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Bridesmaids.” This falls somewhere in the middle of the road. But at this time of year, it fits the bill for something amusing and mindless.

“You’re Cordially Invited” is a 2025 romantic comedy written and directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Celia Weston, Leanne Morgan, Meredith Hagner, Geraldine Viswanathan, Rory Scovel, Jack McBrayer, Jimmy Tatro and Stony Blyden. Its runtime is 1 hr. 50 minutes and is rated R for language throughout and some sexual references. It began streaming on Amazon Prime Jan. 30. Lynn’s Grade: B-.

By Lynn Venhaus
Whether you embrace the holiday season by turning on Christmas music soon after Halloween or are in the “Bah, Humbug” camp year-round, “Spirited” may surprise you as a sweet-and-salty confection that’s both playful and parody.

A merry musical comedy that offers a fresh twist on the evergreen “A Christmas Carol” from the ghosts’ point of view also mocks the endless parade of holiday entertainment and its conventions.

And that’s refreshing, given that the Hallmark Channel has started its festive onslaught and other streaming services will churn out dozens of films before the new year. We all have our annual favorites, of course, and I wouldn’t be surprised if “Spirited” is among the perennials in years to come.

This flip on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella is that the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell, in charming doofus mode) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from spirits on Christmas Eve. Sunita Mani is Past, Tracy Morgan is Yet to Come (in voice only), and Patrick Page is Jacob Marley.

He must find a selfish man who will see why he ended up miserable and alone, and why he should change. But his choice, an “unredeemable” marketing shark Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds doing his slick, sardonic persona) turns the tables and suddenly, Present is reexamining his life.

This bros-meets-Scrooged affair, co-written by Sean Anders and John Morris, is funny and clever, blending the 19th century behaviors with 22nd century attitudes, and Ferrell and Reynolds are quick with the quips and the wisecracks. Featuring Christmas movie Easter Eggs, there’s even an “Elf” nod, of course.

Anders and Morris are the writing team behind a string of genial just-folks comedies like “Instant Family,” “Daddy’s Home,” “We’re the Millers” and “Horrible Bosses 2.” They’re not re-inventing the wheel here, and this is entertaining enough to survive repeat viewings.

While kidding about “the afterlife is a musical!” and having a jaunty tone about the insertion of music numbers, “Spirited” is committed to the format. They’ve staged snappy song-and-dance numbers by choreographer Chloe Arnold, who’s been doing those delightful “Crosswalk musicals” and other numbers on James Corden’s “The Late Late Show.”

She knows what’s required of big splashy numbers, and the smiling dancers have pep in their steps – these are spirited homages on a major scale.

The songs are written by the current showtune golden boys Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, who recently produced and wrote original material for “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.”

Pasek and Paul, who adapted “A Christmas Story” into a Broadway musical in 2009, are one award shy of an EGOT. They are Oscar winners for “La La Land,” Tony winners for “Dear Evan Hansen,” and their “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack won a Grammy Award and has sold over 7 million copies worldwide.

The funniest song here, not unlike the ironic “South Park” numbers, is “Good Afternoon.” The movie is bracketed by the tap-happy “That Christmas Morning Feelin,’” which is likely the catchiest takeaway. “Do a Little Good” is memorable and Spencer has a genuinely touching ballad “The View From Here.” Who knew she could sing? Or for that matter, Reynolds!

Ferrell, who showed his ease with music on “Saturday Night Live” — in such classic sketches as Marty Culp, along with Ana Gasteyer as his wife Bobbi Mohan Culp, who taught music at the Altadena Middle School, and the best-ever “More Cowbell” — is a natural, and Reynolds also demonstrates his willingness to have fun performing. (And he certainly fares better than Pierce Brosnan in “Mamma Mia!”)

The sweet part of the story is the Briggs family connections, and the director’s sister, Andrea Anders, a veteran of sitcoms including “Joey,” “Ted Lasso” and “Young Sheldon,” plays Reynolds’ sister Carrie, while Joe Tippett plays baby brother Owen and Marlow Barkley is the young niece.

This is a cheery, we’re not taking ourselves too seriously holiday offering where there seemed to be much effort made in getting all the elements right.

So, heat up the cocoa, haul the ugly sweater out of storage, and enjoy getting into the holiday spirit. May you have one of the the hap, hap, happiest Christmas movie watches since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye.

“Spirited” is a 2022 musical comedy directed by Sean Anders starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani and Patrick Page. It’s Rated PG-13 for language, some suggestive material, and thematic elements, and the run time is 2 hours, 7 minutes. In theaters Nov. 11 and streaming on Apple TV + starting Nov. 18. Lynn’s Grade: B