You’re Cordially Invited

Palmetto Island is one of the most idyllic locations to get married. When two weddings are booked on the same day, the rival families vow to make the most of it. But things get messy when father of the bride Jim (Will Ferrell) and sister of the other bride Margot (Reese Witherspoon) go head to head.

It’s hard to believe that this is the first time Ferrell and Witherspoon have teamed up in a film. While their characters were great individually, I have to say that I did not completely buy their romantic chemistry. If anything, I would have preferred for them to stay friends. I did enjoy watching their antics unfold on screen and them calling each other out had me laughing out loud.

The rest of the cast is stacked with some familiar names. Geraldine Viswanathan, who portrays Jim’s daughter Jenni, was brilliant. The father daughter relationship was a big selling point for me, even though it was borderline cringe on several occasions. Meredith Hagner was Neve, the other bride and sister of Margot, who was super bubbly and added an extra layer of comedy. Jack McBrayer played Leslie, the inn keeper who you couldn’t help but feel sorry for among the and Celia Weston was kinda scary and a little bitchy as Margot and Neve’s mother.

Though the film started off promisingly enough and with an interesting concept, it soon grew to be tired. The constant back and forth initially kept me enthralled. After a while it was repetition. The insults weren’t as funny and the hijinks were too far fetched. It also seemed liked the film didn’t really know what it wanted to be. The constant back and forth started to give me whiplash.

You’re Cordially Invited was better than I thought it was going to be. Unfortunately, I just don’t think it reached its full potential. It’s a pity because the cast were great and really seemed to give it their all. I just wish the story would have been more well rounded.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Despicable Me 4

Gru (Steve Carell), Lucy (Kristen Wiig), Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), Agnes (Madison Polan) and the Minions (Pierre Coffin) are back in an all new adventure! With a new addition to their family, Gru Jr., Gru is finding it difficult to bond with his son, especially because his son is intent on tormenting his dad. When old arch nemesis Maxime (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) break out of prison, the family are forced to go on the run.

I have always been a fan of the Despicable Me and Minion movies. They are just so much fun! The storylines are usually full of twists and turns and while you more or less know how they will turn out, you still have a good time anyway.

This time around we were joined by some new faces. Joey King donned the role of Poppy Prescott, a new neighbor who dreams of becoming a villain. Her dad Perry voiced by Stephen Colbert and her mom Patsy voiced by Chloe Fineman were great additions that added some new dynamics. I also thought that Maxime and Valentina were worthy villains and learning about Maxime’s past with Gru was interesting too.

I’m always so impressed with the animation in these films. It’s so vivid and I enjoyed seeing different locations from the first three instalments. Mayflower, for example, was a cute little town that the family had to flee to for protection. It was fun getting an inside look at the top secret headquarters where the Minions were hiding out as well as Gru’s school where he learned to become bad.

My favorite part, however, was the Minions. The obsession that I have with these creatures is unmatched. They are just so freaking cute and they say the funniest things. I think I laughed the most when they were on screen.

Despicable Me 4 is just as much fun as its predecessors. Audiences of all ages can find something to enjoy here. With its brilliant animation and talented voice cast, there is a lot to appreciate. I am already very much looking forward to the next Minions movie and whatever else may come from this franchise. I don’t think it’s one I will ever get tired of.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Quiz Lady

Anne (Awkwafina) and Jenny (Sandra Oh) couldn’t be more opposite. When their mother’s gambling addiction throws them together, they are required to put aside their differences in order to settle her debts. Obsessed with the same game show since childhood, Anne just needs to land herself an audition and everything else will fall into place. If only it were that easy.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up watching a game show every evening. My grandmother introduced me to Jeopardy and before I knew it, I was hooked. The routine was soothing and I began to think of Alex Trebec as family since he was in my home all the time. Unlike myself, Anne grew up feeling neglecting by the other members of her family and so she turned to Can’t Stop The Quiz for solace. I liked how the show became a way that she and Jenny eventually reconnected.

The dynamic duo of Awkwafina and Oh was one that I never knew I needed. They worked so flawlessly off each other and really did pass as sisters. What I enjoyed the most was the fact that they didn’t play the characters we expect of them; Awkwafina usually tackles the more offbeat individuals, while Oh plays the more straight laced, career-driven types. To see them essentially swap places was a breath of fresh air and it worked.

The film wouldn’t have been complete without its supporting cast. Will Ferrell gave quite a touching performance as game show host Terry McTeer. It was nice to see him as a father figure to Anne and I’m glad he didn’t dial it up too much. Holland Taylor was great as Anne’s elderly neighbor Francine, while Jason Schwartzman a shoe in for villainous fellow contestant Ron. And of course I can’t leave out the cameo by Paul Reubens who left us not too long ago.

Overall, Quiz Lady is a quirky story filled with lots of laughs and some heart along the way. The shenanigans that Anne and Jenny found themselves in throughout kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re looking for something fun to watch this weekend, I recommend checking this one out as it’ll surely leave a smile on your face.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Spirited

We all know Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol. A somewhat awful person is visited by the ghosts of past, present and future in hopes that they will learn from their mistakes and become a better person. Spirited is the modernized version. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) is considered to be irredeemable; he doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him. But Present (Will Ferrell) wants to give Clint a chance to turn things around. And so begins a most magical adventure…

I feel like we’ve been waiting for Spirited to release for forever. It’s been sitting in the coming soon section of Apple TV+ all year long. Luckily it did not disappoint.

Although it took some time for me to become invested in the story, once I got there, it was all smooth sailing for me. I wanted to know why Clint was such an asshole and I doubted whether or not he really could change. It was such a breath of fresh air to have Reynolds play a different kind of character. The same can be said for Ferrell. He didn’t bother me like he usually does and his scenes with Reynolds were so entertaining.

The film would not be complete without Octavia Spencer. As Kimberly was a great addition not only as Clint’s work colleague, but also as a love interest for Present. I also loved seeing the different ghosts. I wish Past (Sunita Mani) had been featured more as I found her important to the story. Yet-To-Come (Loren G. Woods and Tracy Morgan respectively) was probably my favorite due to the fact that his looks and voice did not match whatsoever. And then of course there was Marley (Patrick Page) who audiences may remember from the original.

Turning this into a musical was a brilliant idea. The songs were catchy and the choreography exceptional. Combine the two with a Christmas backdrop and you have a winner. I may have been unsure about some of the actors’ singing talents, but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised.

Overall, Spirited is a holiday treat for the whole family to enjoy. Despite the slow start, it really picks up and whisks you away for two hours. It has a good moral and some twists along the way that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5