After six seasons on "The Office" and two Hangover films, Ed Helms finally gets to be number one in a movie. When Tim Lippe is unexpectedly sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for an annual insurance convention, he was prepared for a quiet, structured weekend of work. Little did he know that one weekend in Cedar Rapids would change his life forever.
Tim Lippe is a straight-laced, standup guy who is content with his simple life in small-town Wisconsin. From a young age he knew he wanted to be an insurance salesman, not for the money, put because he saw them as heroes, people who went out of their way to help those in need. When Brown Insurance’s all-star salesman tragically dies, the company needs a last-minute representative at the convention. Lippe is chosen by Bill, the company’s money-hungry owner, to travel to Cedar Rapids and bring home the coveted 'Two Diamonds’ award. Lippe is the perfect candidate: a dedicated, hard-working do-gooder who would never cross the line of decency. But Lippe soon learns that Cedar Rapids changes people and what happens at the convention stays there.
The film is rife with recognizable faces, and with a cast like this Cedar Rapids is sure to be hilarious. The relationship that develops among a small group of insurance agents over the fateful weekend is priceless. Ed Helms is naïve Tim Lippe, a man who has so little life experience that he is ready to propose to his current flame Macy (Sigourney Weaver), his elementary school teacher. The doors of Lippe's sheltered life are flung open when he steps onto an airplane for the first time. His short trip is filled with new experiences and we see this sweet man check into his first hotel, have his first one-night stand, and taste his first drugs with blatant honesty. Lippe’s world begins to open up when he meets his roommates for the weekend, Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), and Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.). Soon enough he meets Joan (Anne Heche), who takes an instant liking to the innocent Lippe. The three rambunctious convention veterans take Lippe under their wing and the four form a clique. His new friends are the cool kids at camp, the rebels, and with enough peer pressure, he dives head first into the deep end. Helms holds nothing back, but instead of over-exaggerating his actions (in typical Will Ferrell fashion), we watch him open one door after another with hesitation, curiosity and sometimes such zeal you can't help but wish you were partying with him.
A simple story about simple people is revved up by outlandish, yet endearing characters. Director Miguel Arteta (Youth In Revolt, The Good Girl) brings first-time feature Writer Phil Johnston’s script to life with the help of smart, talented actors. Johnston has created rich characters in an unadorned world, making them feel real as opposed to caricatures of themselves. Cedar Rapids isn’t your average brainless comedy full of dimwitted jokes. The jokes are witty and intelligent with just the right amount of "stupid" sprinkled in. It’s clear that Johnston carefully chose his punch lines so as not to overdo it. The writing and actors are so natural, you feel as if you’re right there in Cedar Rapids with them.
For Tim Lippe, Cedar Rapids turns out to be a land of growth and discovery. In just a few days, we grow up with Helms’ character, as he draws us in and teaches us about life, honesty and learning to be yourself. He finds out that that the world isn’t black and white, and that people can surprise you, for better or for worse. In the end, he stays true to himself and walks off with his integrity, new friends, and the knowledge that a fresh new life has just begun.
DVD Bonus Features
Some pretty hilarious extras include your typical gag reel and deleted scenes, along with a segment titled “Mike O’Malley-Urban Clogger,” in which we watch actor Mike O’Malley learn how to dance for his small role in the film. Next, “Tweaking in the USA” gives us a look at the filming of the house party. In “Wedding Belles: Crashing A Lesbian Wedding,” we see how the wedding in the film came together. The extras are rounded out by an over-the-top commercial for Brown Insurance and a theatrical trailer for Cedar Rapids.
"Cedar Rapids" is on sale June 21, 2011 and is rated R. Comedy. Directed by Miguel Arteta. Written by Phil Johnston . Starring Anne Heche, Ed Helms, John C Reilly.
