'Cedar Rapids' is worth the trip

Ed Helms (aka Andy on “The Office” and the-missing-tooth-guy in “The Hangover”) is really good at playing the nice-guy second banana, but what happens with little Eddie is given a vehicle all his own? Well, when he's backed up by quirky comedy vets like John C. Reilly, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Root, actually, a whole lot of funny happens.  “Cedar Rapids” is a touching tale about friendship and growth that is as heartfelt as it is raunchy. I’m as surprised to report perhaps as much as you’re surprised to read it – “Cedar Rapids” is really adorable, even when it gets pretty blue. 

Tim Lippe (Helms) is a dedicated insurance agent for Brown Valley Insurance. Born and raised in unknown Brown Valley, Wisconsin, he's the kind of guy that in every circumstance refers to sex as “making love.” He diligently refills the bird feeder outside the house he’s lived in since he was born – a house he’s never thought to redecorate after his parents passed away. 

Tim’s recently entered what is possibly his first adult relationship with his former grade school teacher and recent divorcee, Mrs. Vanderhei (Sigourney Weaver), and he’s also about to take his first step into a larger world. Brown Valley Insurance’s number one, multiple "Two Diamond Award"-winning agent dies in a tawdry “accident,” and in an effort to salvage the company’s image, Tim, with his square sweater vests, travel money belt and proclivity to take everyone at their word, is sent off to the big insurance convention where he has to present to President Orin Helgessen (the always-furrowed Kurtwood Smith) for a chance to bring home the coveted Two Diamond Award. 

Tim handles the stress of his first foray out of Brown Valley, an unhappy boss (Root) and all the pressures and temptations of the Sheraton Cedar Rapids by giving candy to a hooker and immediately falling in with the wrong crowd – most notably suspected client poacher Dean Ziegler (Reilly). 

Between Tim’s need to be constantly mothered via cell phone by his older girlfriend and his desire to get an actual life, his moral compass is tested in the wilds of Iowa. But Tim’s belief that insurance agents can be super heroes makes him irresistibly charming and likable. His clueless but sweet nature also drives the story, as Tim not only discovers the wonders of drugs and alcohol, hotel pools and casual “making love,” but also the sometimes seedy underbelly of the insurance game. 

Vulnerable Tim is looked after by the crude-but-lovable Dean and significantly toyed with by convention regular Joan (a very animated, but not in the slightest bit crazy Anne Heche). Almost every dirty joke has a purpose to propel Tim’s tale and in the end this movie is about good people in ridiculous but not entirely unbelievable circumstances, which make for a refreshingly un-gratuitous, but very adult, comedy even though a few bits fall flat.

With “Cedar Rapids,” director Miguel Arteta (“Youth in Revolt,” “The Good Girl”) seems to have hit a broader but none-the-less unique stride than his previous efforts. There is no doubt that Tim is the hero and we root for him the entire time, never doubting he’ll land on the right side when his archaic notions of right and wrong are tested. Artera seems to make it all click from the decent and deceptively smart script to Helms, Reilly and Heche’s earthy, easy performances – it just works from beginning to end (even during the credits, so stick around). 

“Cedar Rapids” isn’t perfect, but it’s worth the look for some genuinely heartfelt laughs and a few penis jokes.

For more of Megan Carr’s movie reviews and media musings, visit her website at therestiscreamcheese.com.

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