“…I thought ‘now here’s a kid who is gonna go places,’ and somehow… you just didn’t.”
And thus begins the classic hero’s journey for callow insurance salesman Tim Lippe (Ed Helms of “The Hangover” and TV’s “The Office), the protagonist of “Cedar Rapids,” the criminally under seen film from director Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl” and “Youth in Revolt”). After the star salesman in Lippe’s office freakishly dies, Lippe is called to action as a last minute replacement to represent his company at a sales conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Having never left his hometown, Lippe is forced to leave behind his worldly comforts, including a physical relationship with his former junior high school teacher, played by Sigourney Weaver (if you need me to list a film starring Weaver, then you’re a f*cking philistine).
The main goal Tim Lippe ‘s quest involves gaining the coveted “Two Diamonds Award,” given to salesmen who display moral, “Christian” ideals. Things become complicated when Lippe befriends Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly, check his imdb page), a recently divorced party animal who encourages Lippe to fight the hypocrisy of the conference’s moral ideals. “Church and insurance are separate!” Lippe’s moral compass is further challenged when he finds himself attracted to Joan (Anne Heche, yes, THAT Anne Heche), a fellow insurance seller who uses the weekend conference to forget the husband and kids that wait for her back home. Heche brings a wonderfully sad and understated performance to the proceedings, nicely contrasting Reilly’s Zeigler and Isiah Whitlock Jr’s Ronald Wilkes, the most mature member of the team. Wilkes manages to play Ronald as droll yet completely believable, which is one of the film’s main strengths and what sets “Cedar Rapids” towers above other comedies this year.
Director Arteta and screenwriter Phil Johnson wisely let the plot and humor of this film unfold naturally through it’s characters. Not a single moment or line of dialogue feels false, but more importantly it gives these characters heart and likability. You root for Lippe and despite yourself, you wish you had friends like his. After her second viewing of the film, my better half asked me if the movie did well enough at the box office to merit a sequel. I told her that it hadn’t and she sighed and said “That’s too bad. I would have liked to see these people again.”
“Cedar Rapids” is on DVD and Blu-Ray. Buy several copies, support good cinema.
-Dougger
I don’t trust the opinions of this particular guest writer.
who’s the new writer???
i agree with phil
pretty good post
who’s DOUGGER?
good flick and Anne Heche looked hot!!!
cedar rapids wasnt that great.
Spot on — I LOVED this movie
great review!!! WRITE MORE LIKE THIS!
I liked this review too!!! post more!!!
an astute review of an enjoyable movie. kudos!
DOUGGER sounds like a cool guy….sounds like.
this Dougger’s got moxie!
i want to b rape Phil
^ ^ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
c’mon hollywookiee do a review a day!
dougger needs to get off his ass and do more reviews!
never heard of cedar rapids.
Hey can Dougger do more reviews, i like his? style
SPOILERS MUCH?!?!
Well i netflixed the movie based on this review and loved it so thanks!!!
Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
this Dogger was a one hit reporter apparently
the movie sucked, the review sucked, dougger sucks and so does this website
mmmmm yeah.
i want to take dougger behind the church by his house and get him pregnant
do me right Dougger, do me right.
do it!
What’s the difference involving innocence and ignorance?
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i have seen Dougger do some great stuff and I would like to think he would do more here.
you + a bag of dicks= this website
if dougger doesnt write again then there is no God.
MOXIE!!!!!
DOUGGER LIVES
This was a seriously terrific read. How long have you been publishing? I enjoyed reading this write-up so much!
What do you mean by much-married closet case Cary Grant?