Review of Cedar Rapids (2011) by Jacob D — 26 Dec 2011

Most people have not heard of this film. When you say Cedar Rapids, no one will know it's an actual movie... Then when you tell them Ed Helms stars as an insurance salesman in a Midwestern Town going to the biggest most important insurance convention to win the prestigious Two Diamond Award, and John C. Reilly is his roomate? It'll definitely spark people's interests. This is a very underrated unknown fish-out-of-water comedy with great subtle humor (plus a few big laughs) throughout.

Ed Helms is great as Tim Lippe. He's sort of a man-child. Like say a more mature version of Kenneth from 30 Rock. John C. Reilly plays Dean Ziegler, the rebellious troublemaker. He's got some really funny parts and steals every most of the scenes he's in. Next there's his other roomate, Ronald Wilkes, played by Isiah Whitlock Jr. This character is pretty tame. He's not wild or crazy in anyway. He's the complete opposite of Reilly's character. Then there's the love interest, Joan, played by Anne Heche. She's wild and adventurous and is always looking for a good time.

Cedar Rapids is more than an insurance convention. It's more like a summer camp. Everyone gets beds and roomates, and there are daily activities. You meet new people and you can just get away from life. There are the troublemakers getting disciplined (Reilly), the calm ones who obey (Whitlock) and the flirtatious (Heche).

Also like a summer camp, it's a place to find yourself and discover who you really are. Tim Lippe (Helms) learns so much about the world, people, and himself from his experiences at Cedar Rapids. The characters leave having made new friends and still keep in touch, like summer camp. It helps immensely having these characters a little childish.. because it makes the parallels between Cedar Rapids and a summer camp much more defined and clear.

If you're ever looking for something funny, with great characters, and lets you look inside and learn about yourself, see Cedar Rapids...