Cedar Rapids

Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is an insurance salesman who's spent his entire life in a small town, unaware of much else in the world.  Naive, childish, but not exactly innocent, his life takes a whole new turn when he's sent to a Cedar Rapids (a bigger town) for an insurance convention, and tasked with bringing home the Two Diamond Award for the company.  We laugh at his awe about a hotel we know is not that glamourous and his wearing of a money belt in small town USA, but Tim soon befriends Ronald (Isiah Whitlock Jr), Joan (Anne Heche), and yes, the one he should avoid, 'poacher' Dean Ziegler - who really isn't. Ziegler is played wonderfully by John C Reilly, he's a crazy fun kind of guy, and helps bring out Tim to the wonders of life beyond what he's always known.

The storyfollows Tim as he goes through the convention, from scavenger hunts to rendezvous's in the pool to befriending a prostitute.  Not exactly an example of stellar professional, Tim soon finds himself in hot water with the head of the ASMI and his boss, the award in jeopardy until he finds out why his company's been winning the award, and how he could get the award.  The plot thickens when Tim bows down to buy the prize, and his guilt is shot when he discovers his boss' betrayal, triggering the choice to grow up and become all that he was meant to be.

This film is not for everyone, but if you're ever out looking for a funny movie for a night in, or if you've already seen everything else you want to see at the theatre, check out Cedar Rapids. At only 90 minutes, it's got a good amount of jokes and laughter without requiring too much of the audience.

3.5/5