“It was so much frum”… From? “It was so much ‘fun’ filming for this film,” says Will Ferrell appearing on my laptop screen with a robotic countenance. It takes me a while to realise he’s doing a funny bit. Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon, seated beside him cracks up, appearing quite used to his shenanigans. My comedy-loving brain is unable to comprehend I’m casually talking to Elle Woods and Buddy the Elf on a regular Wednesday night. The nerves kick in as I calculate their collective cultural impact on the world of entertainment. Of course, it’s been a long time since the two played the aforementioned characters. Over the years, Reese went on to impress in intense dramas like the all-female-led mystery thriller Big Little Lies and The Morning Show in which she delivered a standout performance alongside Jennifer Aniston. Will went from voicing animated characters in The Lego Movie to playing Mattel’s evil CEO in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. And now, they’ve combined their forces to star in and executive produce You’re Cordially Invited, a comedy about a double-booked wedding venue. “Will is just too good,” raves Witherspoon while Ferrell reverts, “For me, it was the same with Reese.”
Friends from work
Opening up about having Will Ferrell as her screen partner and serving as executive producers together behind the scenes, Reese Witherspoon says, “It was so much fun. We had a great time. Will is just so on it and quick. For me, coming in to watch this guy work made me think about how lucky I am every day that I get to go to work and witness his work.” Heaping praise on the diverse ensemble cast of You’re Cordially Invited, Reese adds, “We had this amazing cast. We had Lillian Morgan, Rory Scovel and Jack McBrayer. We have all these great new comedians who are getting this opportunity to really shine. So that was really fun.” Their chemistry, a mix of banter and enemies-to-lovers vibes shines through. Reese’s Margot, a Los Angeles-based TV producer and Will’s Jim, an over-involved widowed father, fight to keep the remote wedding venue for their sister and daughter respectively. It’s easy to root for them as their frustration with each other becomes the front for their eventual fondness for each other.
Parenting lessons
You’re Cordially Invited has its fair share of generational clashes. From breakups documented on TikTok to 2000s songs that have aged like milk, the film plays on the divide between parents and their children. Ask Reese about dealing with the gap when it comes to her own kids, Ava Elizabeth Phillipe, Deacon Reese Phillipe, and Tenessee James Toth, and the actress is nothing but candid. “I think my kids think I’m embarrassing,” she admits. As I find myself interjecting with an “aww”, Reese assures me, “No, no, I live for it. I think it’s really fun. If you’re not embarrassing your children, you’re probably not spending enough time with them.” Will, a father to three sons, Magnus, Mattias and Axel doesn’t shy away from sharing his experience as a parent either. “Without a doubt, I embarrass them often. So my kids are 20, 18 and 15. I’m always messing up. Using the wrong term in the wrong way. And it’s to their endless satisfaction and joy. They love it. And then I’ll purposely say things wrong, just to mess with them. That’s a part of what being a parent is. Messing things up,” he claims. Reese adds, “I enjoy embarrassing my children. I lean into it. I love doing silly dances at the wrong time, especially since they’re pubescent. Like my son’s 12 and I’ll just dance in front of a bunch of girls and he is mortified.”
On Bollywood and desi weddings
Over the years, the sheer volume of Indian cast and crew members on a film’s credit list has increased exponentially. The diverse cast of You’re Cordially Invited includes a half-Indian character, Jim’s daughter Jenni, played by Geraldine Viswanathan. Indian wedding customs also get a nod in the form of marigold garlands at the wedding. For Will, it wasn’t the first time experiencing a desi marriage. In fact, he was invited to one. He recalls, “I was at a hotel once in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area and there was an Indian wedding going on. It took place for three days. There were hundreds of people there and we got invited. They were like, ‘Just come. No one will know that you’re here. There’s already so many people.’ But I couldn’t because they’re super large weddings. There’s typically around 500 people right?”
Curious to know if the two ever considered starring in a desi flick, I ask them about the possibility of crossing over to Bollywood. My question instantly meets with an enthusiastic, “Hire me!” from Reese. “I would be desperate to star in a Bollywood movie. Desperate. Whoever’s there listening, please hire me,” says the actress looking quite serious about it. “Hire both of us,” Will chimes in for good measure. “I will do it. He’s so musical and he’s such a great dancer. We dance really well together. In fact, we choreographed the Islands in the Stream music number at the end of the movie by ourselves,” Reese adds convincingly. Bollywood filmmakers, are you listening?
Comedy legends
The impact Reese and Will have on comedy as a genre is undeniable. Their filmography will forever be a defining moment in movie history. “I’ve always wanted to do comedy since I was a kid,” says Will. “I kind of grew up around entertainment with a musician father. So I saw how tough it was as a business. And that’s why I didn’t necessarily think I could do what I get to do now. It was a little bit delayed. But this is all I’ve ever wanted to do, starting with being on a show like Saturday Night Live and then to have that propel into the movies I’ve gotten to do. And to work with extraordinary people like Reese. I’m so lucky. Reese is so lucky to get to work with me.”
“That’s what I was going to say. I’m lucky to work with Will. He’s extending my career a little bit. There was no work. And I was waiting by the phone thinking ‘I guess it’s over.’ But just then ring ring. Ferrell,” Reese goes into doing a bit matching her co-star’s energy. As we break into a hearty laugh, it’s easy to see how these two legends got together for a movie like this. Noticing my high-pitched laugh as I say my goodbyes to wrap up our conversation, Reese reacts, “Oh honey, you’re the cutest.” Before I can process it, the video call abruptly disconnects and just like that, Elle Woods and Buddy the Elf leave me beaming for the rest of the evening.
See Also: EXCLUSIVE: Reese Witherspoon & Will Ferrell want to star in an Indian film
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