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You’re Cordially Invited – Review
You’re Cordially Invited – Prime Video – 1 hour and 49 minutes
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Jim anxiously awaits his daughter’s return from college. He jumps to the door when Jenni arrives but isn’t expecting her boyfriend, Oliver. Jenni excitedly shows Jim her engagement ring. Jim sits in shock and wonders why Oliver didn’t get his permission. Jenni laughs at what she believes is an antiquated notion but screams when he doesn’t laugh. She wanted to move down the street after her wedding but now reconsiders because of Jim’s attitude. Jim fears losing his connection to Jenni because he lost his wife over a decade ago. He calms down and offers to help with the wedding. Jenni dreamt of having her nuptials at the same place her parents did, Palmetto Island. Jim calls, and the receptionist, Scarlet, remembers him. She reminds Jim that the island can only handle one wedding at a time. The earliest date Scarlet can find is July 1st. Jim offers his credit card for the date, but Scarlet says she doesn’t need it. Scarlet starts to write Jim’s information, but her empty pen leaves an imprint on the page. She reaches for another pen and has a heart attack.
Margot produces reality TV shows but halts when she sees her little sister, Neve, and Neve’s boyfriend, Dixon, in the lobby. Margot can’t take her eyes off Neve’s engagement ring. Neve is ecstatic about her wedding day, but their mother, Flora, is taking over and passing judgment. Margot suggests a wedding without the family, but Neve believes that will worsen the situation. Margot reminds Neve of their favorite place, the island where their grandmother lived, Palmetto Island. Margot offers to throw the wedding and calls the venue. The new receptionist, Leslie, answers and looks through the book. He doesn’t see the imprint his mother, Scarlet, left. He books Neve’s wedding for July 1st.
Margot, Jim, and the pair of newlyweds ride to the venue. Both believe the other group is with the other side of the family. After a discussion, they discover they have weddings booked for the same day on the small island. They run to Leslie, and he shows them Margot’s reservation in the book. Jim reiterates that he booked his reservation with Scarlet. Leslie informs Jim that Scarlet died the day he booked. Jim sees the imprint and uses a pencil to expose it. Leslie realizes they double-booked the island. However, Margot’s credit card is on file, so she gets the reservation. Jim walks away and disappoints Jenni.
As Margot watches Jim interact with Jenni, she feels sad about taking Jenni’s venue. So, Margot and Jim call a truce. They pull Leslie aside and decide to break down the wedding and its events to accommodate both groups. Neve will have her rehearsal dinner inside while Jenni is outside. Jenni will wed at the first half of sunset, and Neve will use the second half. Jenni will have her reception first, followed by Neve. Leslie agrees to this arrangement while Jim and Margot leave with a smile. This truce is short-lived. By nightfall, one couple will split, a dock will collapse, and an alligator will bite someone.
This movie is reminiscent of Bride Wars (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Two sane people do crazy things for the person they love the most. Instead of the brides-to-be, it’s the father-of-the-bride and maid-of-honor. Margot and Jim have an extremely co-dependent relationship with their loved one. Jim holds on to Jenni because he lost his wife. And Margot’s only healthy family connection is Neve. Jim and Margot go to extremes to give Jenni and Neve their dream wedding. This premise sets up the script for some humorous moments as Jim and Margot plot and scheme to outsmart each other. However, most of the jokes fall flat. Jim’s jokes play into the generational differences and offer nothing new for the viewers. And Margot’s jokes fall into the stereotypical overbearing and unapproving family tropes. It tries to be outlandish but becomes sad. The shameless cameos won’t grab your attention either, but the saving grace is the unexpecting romance inside the comedy. The conclusion will make you laugh more than the movie. Viewers should save this movie as background noise on a rainy day.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
We’re getting married – Jenni
Yeah, I’m fine – Jim
Who’s credit card is on file – Margot
I’m the family peacemaker – Neve
Is timing the sunset even a thing – Leslie
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Back in Action – Review
Back in Action – Netflix – 1 hour and 54 minutes
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CIA agents Matt and Emily retrieve the Industrial Control Systems key from terrorists. The key can control any electrical system. Their boss, Chuck, arranges an extraction flight with Emily’s ex-boyfriend, Baron, at a nearby airport hanger. Baron attempts to flirt, but Emily loves Matt. They relax on the plane, but Matt wonders why Emily won’t celebrate with champagne. She tells him that she’s pregnant with their first child. Emily starts feeling ill and races to the bathroom. However, the flight attendant says it’s broken. Matt and Emily know the flight crew are terrorists, and they demand the key. Matt gives the key to the terrorists as Emily and Matt attack. They jump off before it crashes with the terrorist and key on board. Matt thinks someone in the agency gave them up. He’s not willing to risk the life of Emily or their unborn child. They decide to fake their death and live in the shadows.
Emily and Matt have new identities and two children, Alice and Leo, fifteen years later. Emily and Matt enjoy life in suburbia but worry about their children. Alice is a social butterfly and keeps secrets from Emily. Alice rebels against Emily but openingly loves Matt. Leo is a gamer who stresses about his health. He wears a biometric ring that tracks his vitals (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).
After her soccer match, Alice asks to study with friends. Emily and Matt agree, but Emily thinks Alice is lying. Emily hacks into Alice’s computer and tracks underage Alice at an adult nightclub. Matt and Emily find Alice at the club and force Alice to leave, but a young man stops them and throws a punch. Emily and Matt use their skills to take down the young man and his friends. Emily, Matt, and Alice return home.
Emily and Matt answer the door and see Chuck on their porch. Someone streamed their fight live and put it on social media. The CIA never recovered the key from the wreckage, and many terrorists and agents believe Emily and Matt have it. He warns that their location isn’t safe. A terrorist shoots Chuck in the neck. Emily and Matt escape and rush to their kids. Matt admits that he removed the key from the box before he gave the box to the terrorist on the plane. He hid the key in the one place Emily would never look: her mother’s home in England. They must grab their kids, fly to England, and retrieve the key before someone kills them or their children.
This movie has a score of action scenes, but the editing isn’t smooth. It makes the audience feel disoriented. This family takes their vacation to the extreme while they fight operatives as they bicker. Emily and Matt have an unbreakable bond but disagree on managing their children. Also, they want to appear ‘cool.’ Alica and Leo second-guess their parents for two reasons. They are young and fed a lifetime of lies. They never believe they are in danger until the guns fire. The script is funny and will connect to parents who’ve traveled with their family. The first plot twist is foreseeable, but the second points to a sequel. It won’t be necessary, but viewers can see the pair team up again.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
You always say the right things – Emily
Your mom’s a piece of work, but she’s still your mom – Matt
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