The Big, Bad World Versus the Hayseed

In certain kinds of movies, there’s an innocent character born every minute. He or she is usually from a small town, and they believe that if they work hard, treat people well and tell the truth, they will succeed in life and find happiness.

Of course, in life as in the movies, a shady character must come along to disabuse the innocent of their fantasy. Shady offers an opportunity to get ahead by cheating, or they’re a member of the opposite sex with a hidden agenda, or they’re a friend who has selfish motives for wanting our innocent to do them a favor. The innocent falls into the trap, mayhem ensues, and he or she must find a way out of their dilemma with their integrity intact. It’s a sturdy, tried-and-true formula.

Planting its flag solidly in this vein is Cedar Rapids, starring Ed Helms and directed by Miguel Arteta. Helms plays Tim Lippe, an insurance agent from Brown Valley, Mo., who is sent to an annual insurance agents convention to win the coveted "Two Diamonds Award for Excellence" for the fourth year in a row. His other job while he's there? Stay away from fellow attendee Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), a.k.a., the Deanster.

As fate (and screenwriter Phil Johnston’s script) would have it, Tim ends up sharing a room with Dean, and pretty soon all hell breaks loose. Dean is a party animal, as is his good friend Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche), who helps Tim cheat on his secret “pre-engagement” girlfriend Macy (Sigourney Weaver), who used to be his grade school teacher. To what lengths will Tim go to secure the Two Diamonds Award? Can you take away a man’s innocence but leave his sweetness intact?

Helms essentially plays the same role that he plays in The Hangover franchise and The Office: a sweet, semi-befuddled, morally solid guy behind whom other people rally because they see the goodness in him that they have lost. Cedar Rapids really belongs to Reilly, whose Dean is also sweet, but happens to be rebellious, with equal parts vulgarity and loyalty thrown in. A scene in the hotel swimming pool, during which Reilly wears a garbage can lid as his party helmet, is worth the price of admission.

Anne Heche is relatable and attractive as Joan, who just wants to have some fun while she's away from her family. It makes you wish she could have a film career again. Isiah Whitlock, Jr. gamely makes jokes about his character on HBO’s The Wire, which makes you like him all the more as the straight man to Dean's Lothario.

Aside from some startlingly raw language, there’s nothing surprising about Cedar Rapids. It’s as if director Arteta, who directed the distinctly funny but uncomfortable film Chuck and Buck back in 2000, is watering down his penchant for moments that make you wince and laugh at the same time. For instance, if Tim is sleeping with his former grade school teacher, are you really going to cast the aristocratic, fully made-up Sigourney Weaver as that teacher if you're going for any it's-so-real-it-hurts laughs? No. I think you're indulging in some stunt casting, and it dents the soul of the film.

If you’re looking for a soothing way to spend a couple of hours, and you want a few belly laughs, Cedar Rapids will do the job. It just won't show you anything you haven't already seen before.

Three Patches out of five.

I asked a few of my fellow audience members what they thought of the film:

"I thought it was funny!  John C. Reilly was hilarious." —Gwen, Laguna Hills

"It was OK. I like Ed Helms from The Office." —Charlie, San Clemente

 "Very, very funny.  I loved it." —Vera, Laguna Niguel