WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for You’re Cordially Invited.
A 2020 wedding-themed romantic comedy streaming on Hulu is the perfect movie to watch after Prime Video’s You’re Cordially Invited. While You’re Cordially Invited features the first on-screen pairing of Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, the Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets) comedy divided critics with a score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, earning an even worse 37% audience score. Screen Rant‘s review of You’re Cordially Invited noted how the film can make audiences cringe more than laugh.
At face value, You’re Cordially Invited seems like it has a great premise, tapping into the vintage hilarity of classic wedding-themed comedies such as Wedding Crashers (2005), The Proposal (2009), and Bridesmaids (2010). 2023’s Anyone But You became a surprise box office hit, setting up Sydney Sweeney’s Bea with Glen Powell’s Ben for an unexpected reunion at a destination wedding. Viewers who may have not been satisfied with You’re Cordially Invited should check out the underrated wedding comedy Palm Springs.
Palm Springs Is Another Fantastic Disaster Wedding Rom-Com Starring Meredith Hagner
Palm Springs Applies A High Concept To The Classic Wedding Comedy
While Palm Springs and You’re Cordially Invited may have vastly different critical receptions, both are essentially “wedding disaster” types of comedies. Palm Springs is more high-concept than You’re Cordially Invited, featuring a Groundhog Day-style scenario. Both movies similarly end well for the couples getting married but are equally surrounded by chaos from the two romantic leads. Palm Springs’ Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti have fantastic chemistry, matching the entertaining team-up of You’re Cordially Invited’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.
Interestingly, both Palm Springs and You’re Cordially Invited feature Meredith Hagner in their cast. Hagner, who also recently starred in the Vince Vaughn Apple TV+ comedy series Bad Monkey, plays Misty in Palm Springs, the ex-girlfriend of Andy Samberg’s Nyles. In You’re Cordially Invited, Hagner has a more central role as Neve, the little sister of Witherspoon’s Margot who is engaged to Jimmy Tatro’s Dixon. Palm Springs also features performances by J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Peter Gallagher (The O.C.), and Camila Mendes (Riverdale).
Palm Springs Leans Much More Into The Romance Story Than You’re Cordially Invited
Samberg & Miliot Make A Great On-screen Romantic Duo
At its core, Palm Springs is a pure rom-com that establishes the romantic chemistry between Samberg and Milioti’s characters very early on. On the other hand, You’re Cordially Invited is mostly a comedy until the very end when they decide to pursue each other romantically.
Viewers who had hoped for a more true-to-form romantic comedy while watching You’re Cordially Invited will have better luck watching Hulu’s Palm Springs. You’re Cordially Invited is quite classic in its comedic tone, while Palm Springs is one of the more innovative and well-executed wedding comedies in recent years.
