There’s something about wedding movies that always makes me want to RSVP ASAP.  Even when they don’t entirely work (The Wedding Ringer, Shotgun Wedding), perhaps I’m drawn to the built-in spectacle—the fancy clothes, the big speeches, the rehearsal dinners, the in-laws, and the inevitable disaster that somehow leads to an even sweeter resolution. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been to enough weddings to know that real-life nuptials are just as weirdly theatrical as their cinematic counterparts. So when a movie like You’re Cordially Invited comes along, starring two effortlessly charming actors and promising a battle of wills over a double-booked venue, I want to believe it’ll deliver the kind of comedy that makes you laugh so hard you nearly spill your champagne.

With an A-list cast, a high-concept premise, and Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbors) at the helm, this should have been a wild, R-rated romp through matrimonial mayhem. Instead, it feels oddly tentative, playing it safe and never fully committing to the big laughs, raucous pandemonium, or enough of the heartfelt moments that could have elevated it beyond an amusing but forgettable watch.

Two brides—Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan, 7 Days) and Neve (Meredith Hagner, Vacation Friends)—discover that their dream wedding venue has been double-booked, forcing their families into a high-stakes standoff over who gets to say I do in paradise. Representing each side is Jenni’s doting but overwhelmed dad, Jim (Will Ferrell, Spirited), and Margot (Reese Witherspoon, Hot Pursuit), Neve’s perfectionist older sister, who also happens to be a high-strung TV producer. The clash of personalities would indicate the instant ignition of comedic fireworks, but the film and its stars never wholly lean into the absurdity of its premise.

Ferrell and Witherspoon are undeniably likable and more than capable of delivering the kind of offbeat chemistry that could have carried this through. But their scenes together—rather than crackling with comedic zip—often feel subdued, as if the movie can’t decide whether to devolve into screwball antics or surprise us with something more sentimental. Both stars know their way around comedy, making it all the more puzzling when their scenes together lack the expected spark.   It’s an odd misfire all around, especially considering Stoller’s track record of extracting big laughs from socially awkward situations (Bros, The Five-Year Engagement).

The supporting cast brings welcome energy, occasionally outshining the leads. Celia Weston (The Secret: Dare to Dream) is perfectly cast as Neve and Margot’s imperious Southern mother, whose disapproval is delivered with a steely politeness that makes every scene with her a treat. Comedians Leanne Morgan and Rory Scovel deliver scene-stealing performances as Margot’s siblings. Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Suncoast) provides terrific comic relief as a trainwreck maid-of-honor, but like much of the film, her presence feels like an underused asset.

Perhaps most perplexing is the film’s attempt to forge an unlikely romantic connection between the leads that feels forced rather than organic.  It’s the kind of plot turn that might have worked with more setup, but here, it feels shoehorned in, as if the filmmakers realized too late that they needed another emotional thread to tie everything together.  This particular match-up strains credibility beyond the breaking point in a genre that typically thrives on unexpected pairings of oddballs.

Filmed in Atlanta, You’re Cordially Invited is polished but lacks a strong personality of its own. It’s the kind of film you can imagine doing decent business in theaters if it had a little more of that dark comedy bite I mentioned missing, but as a direct-to-streaming release, it makes sense. It’s pleasant, competently made, and occasionally funny, but it never quite reaches the level of the best wedding comedies, the ones that leave you ready for a rewatch on a sick day from work or a rainy weekend afternoon.  You’ll have a fine time but barely remember it a week later.