To me, this movie is perfection.

Pretty Good

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Tim Lippe, a man from a small town in Wisconsin, is a decent man. That does not mean he is a saint. When we meet him, he is seen making love to his former school teacher, Macy Vanderhei, a woman much older than Tim. Tim is employed at an insurance agency which will be represented by his boss, but the man's untimely death, leaves the head of the agency no alternative but to send Tim to represent the company and to win the coveted 'two diamond' award for the best agency covering the Midwest.Tim is naive in a lot of ways. Taking his first flight is an unexpected thrill for him. He is not prepared for the big city ways. As he is about to enter the hotel, he meets a friendly prostitute outside looking for prospects. Tim is made to share a small suite with Ronald, and the man he was told to avoid, Dean Ziegler. Tim is horrified. When Joan Ostrowski-Fox, a woman attending the convention arrives, things change for Tim. Meeting the man in charge of granting the award in the locker room is something he would have loved to avoid since both are naked and the man insists in giving him a hug."Cedar Rapids" is a good comedy which rings true. Miguel Arteta directed the film with an eye to keeping things in check and not making the mistake of going overboard with things that might have derailed the film. The screenplay was written by Phil Johnston. The situations presented are what one would expect in a place where people go for fun and relaxation. Most of the events featured are what such events try to capitalize when it involves people that are not exactly sophisticates.Ed Helms keeps getting better all the time. He is always seen in roles that show him as a naive man. His Tim is basically a decent individual trying to do a good showing and bring back the trophy. John C. Reilly proves he is a source of fun wherever he appears. His Dean is a man who likes occasions such as being away from home to have a good time, no matter what. Anne Heche is Joan, the lady who knows the territory. Isiah Whitlock plays Ronald, a straight laced man who shows his worth to get his friends from a sticky situation. A perfect Sigourney Weaver appears as Macy. She is not around much, but she certainly impresses. Others in the supporting cast include Stephen Root and Kerwood Smith.

"Cedar Rapids" is a moderately entertaining film about an uptight insurance salesman (Ed Helms) who attends his first conference and learns unpleasant truths about the industry and the people he's come to idealize. If there aren't a lot of really stand-out comedic bits to make the film memorable, there are plenty of things about the film that make it consistently enjoyable. Ed Helms is one of those things, giving an appealing performance in a bit of a stock role. John C. Reilly is another of those things, as a loutish buffoon who becomes one of the film's chief and most likable protagonists. And another is Anne Heche, cute and winning as a pseudo-love interest for Helms' character. I'm not sure the film is developed very well -- the journey Helms' character goes on happens too quickly and conflicts are a bit too patly resolved -- but it's not the kind of film that will stand up to too much scrutiny. Enjoy it for what it is, a fairly pleasing comedy for adults.Grade: B

The indie comedy "Cedar Rapids" goes by pretty rapid with its 89 minute running time, and that is somewhat a good thing but it's mostly not such a bad thing. The film stars Ed Helms as Tim Lippe, a small-town insurance salesman who is sent out by his Brownstone Insurance Company to Cedar Rapids for an annual insurance convention. Bill Krogstad (Stephen Root), the owner of Brownstone Insurance, instructs naïve Ed to brownnose the Insurance Convention President so Brownstone can once again receive a prestigious Insurance Award. Tim meets three convention regulars in: the insurance entrepreneur workaholic Ronald Wilkes who is a devotee to the HBO Show "The Wire", the foxy middle-age insurance rep Joan Ostrowski-Fox who looks forward to the convention on annual basis for a little escapism, and the spirit-fueled (in more ways than one, and more drinks than one) vociferous insurance rep Dean Ziegler who is the Dean of Convention Partying. I will keep my lips sealed on what happens to Lippe so I don't spoil the fun for you, but let's say it is the time for Tim to unwind. Director Miguel Arteta's effort is not close to being a work of art with its semi-muddled style, and Screenwriter Phil Johnston did not phil up the scribe with a mesmeric narrative; but what Arteta & Johnston (sounds like a law firm) were able to pull out in their filmmaking were magnificent supporting characters to the picture. Ed Helms was pretty much taking off the same characterization of his infamous Stu in "The Hangover" franchise with his leading work here as Lippe; so yea, it was adequate but it did not hungover with freshness for too long since we have seen it before. However, it was the two amigos and one amiga of Lippe what sold me on "Cedar Rapids". I was wired in to Isiah Whitlock's performance as Ronald Wilkes; and that voice of Whitlock is one of the best in the business, might even surpass the Freeman. Anne Heche was captivating as Joan Ostrowski-Fox, and I was joanzing for Joan every time she appeared on screen. And definitely the apex of "Cedar Rapids" was the scene-stealing performance of John C. Reilly as Dean Ziegler, one of the funniest comedic performances of 2011; and his R2D2 impression while intoxicated in a pool could just be the funniest moment I have seen in a 2011 movie. I cannot insure you that you will love "Cedar Rapids" because it is for an acquired taste. But for the most part, like a decent comedy, "Cedar Rapids" is there. **** Good

With all of the Hollywood movies either being a superhero movie, sequels, or remake/fairytale ripoffs it is finally good to see a new original script. This movie is hilarious. Great characters and cast chemistry. Ed Helms steps onto the big screen from the Office and does not miss a beat. I see him getting bigger in the coming years. John C. Reilly however absolutely steals the show playing the scumbag salesman with a good heart. Movie is a little dark at times and was somewhat disappointed in the ending but overall a solid original comedy with great acting. It is good to watch a comedy that does not feature the Apatow dick and fart jokes that last for 2 and half hours or a Will Ferrell movie that is mindless humor.