Cedar Rapids (2011)
Cedar Rapids (2010)
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Theatrical Release: February 11, 2011
Director: Miguel Arteta
Rated R
Review by James Klein
Following the success of 2009's The Hangover and his popular character Andy on NBC's "The Office", Ed Helms finally has his first starring role in the new movie Cedar Rapids. Miguel Arteta, who directed last years underrated Youth in Revolt, helms this comedy. And the great John C. Reilly co-stars as a blow hard, foul mouthed antagonist to Helm's sweet, good natured character. This sounds like it could be hilarious but while the film has some laughs, they just don’t come fast enough to keep the movie going. In fact, this is the very kind of film that you would expect to be released in February.
Ed Helms plays Tim Lippe, a sweet, kind but yet naive insurance salesman who works for a religious insurance company. Lippe has a quiet life and is in love with his old childhood schoolteacher, played by Sigourney Weaver. Lippe is so naive that he doesn't even realize that she just wants to be friends with benefits but she continues the relationship so that she won't hurt him. When one of the best insurance salesmen at his company dies suddenly, Lippe is asked to represent the company at an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids. There he must try to win this award in excellence for his company that has won every year for the past few years. However, he is warned by his boss to stay away from this one insurance salesman named Dean Ziegler played by John C. Reilly. Dean is the complete opposite of Lippe and when the two are forced to share a room together at the hotel they are staying at, things become difficult for Lippe.
If Helms isn't careful, he's going to be stuck in the same role as this sweet/innocent but naive guy. Here he does it again and even though he is good in this role, it is already starting to become stale. What doesn't help is that John C. Reilly steals every scene he's in as Dean Ziegler. Dean is hilarious and his inappropriate comments and outbursts are the funniest parts in this movie. The rest of the cast is ok but no one really stands out. Even Sigourney Weaver is reduced to a small role when she could have been used in a funnier way. The movie tries to insert a certain kind of sweetness and kindness, giving more dramatic effect to the Lippe character but it just kills the comedy. But yet the film suddenly goes the dark route and has a scene of Lippe at a party doing coke and smoking heroin which comes out of nowhere and we never see the repercussions of his actions. I am all for black comedies but this comes out of left field. Overall, the tone to the movie is all over the map.
Another issue I had with the film was that the movie reeked of subtle messages. There is a scene where Lippe and Dean and a few of their friends crash a gay wedding and go dancing. One of the characters bursts out saying (it almost sounds like it was ADR): "Gay marriage is legal in Iowa." The scene serves no purpose or point. The movie also pokes fun at religion which may offend a few people. It seems like Hollywood thinks that all Catholic people are sick and perverted, being hypocrites themselves. I am not religious by any means but I can see where people could find this offensive. It's scenes like this that had me rolling my eyes, wondering when the film will end.
Cedar Rapids isn't all bad. There are some good laughs here and there but I am sure this film will be forgotten about in a few months. It's worth a rental just for John C. Reilly. I am still routing on Helms as he has the talent to become a leading comedy star.
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