Film fans often lament the lack of newcomedymovies on the release calendar nowadays. The straightforward, character-driven, and reliably funny 90-minute comedy sort of seems like a thing of the past. This makes movies likeMiguel Arteta’s somewhat-forgotten film,Cedar Rapids, feel like a refreshing return to a bygone era when viewed today, even though it was released less than 15 years ago. The 2011 film starsEd Helmsin his first true leading role on the big screen. Despite receiving generally positive reviews upon its release — it currently has an86% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes—Cedar Rapidsearnedless than $8 million at the worldwide box office. This lack of popularity is unfortunate, asCedar Rapidsdeserves a legacy similar to some of the more beloved films of its era. Like many of the movies from that time, Arteta’s film derivesits success from a screenplay thatgets the most out of a simple story, anddoesn’t sacrifice character development or emotion for humor.
‘Cedar Rapids’ Follows an Ordinary Man on an Extraordinary Journey
Cedar Rapidscenters on Tim Lippe (Helms), an innocent and unworldly 34-year-old insurance salesman who has never stepped foot outside thefictional small townof Brown Valley, Wisconsin. Having lost both of his parents when he was young,the closest people in Tim’s adult life are his coworkersand his former seventh grade teacher, Macy (Sigourney Weaver), who he is in a romantic relationship with. After one of Tim’s coworkers dies in embarrassing fashion, he is hand-selected by his boss, Bill (Stephen Root), to attend an annual insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Before Tim even arrives at the convention, it is made clear to the audience just howunfamiliar he is with anything other than his quiet life in his small town. He naively doesn’t understand why his friend who works at the local airport needs him to go through the security process. Then, once he gets on the flight, he is taken aback by what he perceives to be the “luxuries” of plane travel. Once he makes it to the hotel where the convention is being hosted, he finds himself in a new world — though it’s really only new to him. He quickly becomes acquainted with some of the convention regulars, including Ronald (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), as sensible a man as you’ll ever find, Dean (John C. Reilly), an immature but ultimately kindheartedparty animal, and Joan (Anne Heche), a fun-loving woman with a sadness inside of her who uses the convention as a yearly excuse to inject some fun into her otherwise increasingly numb existence.
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A story set inside an insurance convention at a middle-of-the-road hotel in Cedar Rapids doesn’t exactly scream “humorous hijinks await,” but that’spart of Arteta’s film’s charm. It is about the journey that Helms' character goes on, and the twists and turns that expose him to parts of the world he’s never known. In many ways,Cedar Rapidsis acoming-of-age movie, despite its main character being in his mid-30s. As we watch Tim learn to maneuver through the new realities of life he’s introduced to,the film reveals the big,ever-present heart at its center.
‘Cedar Rapids’ Succeeds by Empathizing With Its Characters
ScreenwriterPhil Johnston’s smart and sincere script, thatfully develops its characters, really is the key toCedar Rapid’s success. Although the film draws much of its humor from its characters, it never feels mocking. Johnston and Arteta clearly empathize with — and respect — the key figures in their story. Filled with laughs throughout,the main characters are rarely the butt of the jokes. This is an admirable achievement, as a lesser film probably would have used characters like Tim and Dean as punching bags, over-focusing on their quirks for easy laughs. What Arteta and Johnston clearly understood, though, is that doing so would have resulted in the audience caring less about the intertwined journey Tim and Dean find themselves on.
As a film,Cedar Rapidsis aware of the fact thataudiences need someone to root for. Although moreovertly absurd comedieshave their place, when making a more grounded film, you can’t just fill your movie with a bunch of inane characters making outlandish decisions. Centering a story on three-dimensional characters rather than one-note caricatures actually amplifies a film’s humor. Most of the characters we meet inCedar Rapidsare presented to us with one main aspect of their personality highlighted, but as the film progresses, layers are peeled back. The film finds time forraunchyand farcical situations, but it wisely sprinkles them deliberately throughout rather than overwhelming the audience with lunacy. Ultimately, it is the viewer’s deep relationship with the characters that makes both the funny and the more heartfelt moments work.
Cedar Rapidsis a film that tells asimple story with room for a big heart. It’s the kind of movie that, in 2011, you could go see on a whim on a Saturday afternoon and leave feeling completely satisfied with no regrets. In this time when, unfortunately, reliably funny and sweet like that aren’t as widely available in theaters, Arteta’s film is worth seeking out.
Cedar Rapidsis available to watch on Max in the U.S.
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Cedar Rapids
