Absolutely Brilliant!

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I really hate all these dry office comedies that are common place today. Films like Office Space and shows like The Office and Community, make me wonder if the people who watch this stuff are truly brain dead to what real comedy is anymore. I assumed that Cedar Rapids would be another of these films, but there is a difference, Ed Helms. Even before he was in films like the Hangover, I thought this guy was hilarious, and I am a great admirer of his work, so I gave this film a shot. Helms plays Tim Lippy, an insurance agent who went right from High School to being an insurance agent. He has never been anywhere, never done anything, and is completely oblivious to the world outside his office. That all changes when Tim is sent to represent his firm at a Midwest insurance conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alone and exposed for the first time in his life, Tim has a hard time just fitting in an letting loose, so he does what every insurance agent does, and turns to drugs, alcohol, and prostitutes. Cedar Rapids is the second film from Miguel Arteta, whose first film, Youth In Revolt, also surprised me. Neither of these films are the type of comedy I enjoy, but somehow Arteta has the magic touch. Cedar Rapids had me laughing to the point of tears, something that almost never happens, and for once, I saw how these ordinary, everyday situations could be funny. As for the star, Ed Helms, he was just amazing, his extreme anxiety and taking every emotion to it's absolute extreme just gets me every time. Cedar Rapids isn't your typical comedy and even after seeing the preview, I was convinced that it would be terrible, but the combination of Miguel Arteta and Ed Helms make this film a must see comedy classic.

Insurance agent Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is sent to represent his company at a conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. When he gets there, he is to room with the out-going loud mouthed Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly)I had a lot of high hopes for this film, and it definitely has some funny parts, but overall the film is just an hour and a half of Ed Helms being the awkward, quirky loser who gets to have sex with the hot girl.John C. Reilly was nothing special either, he seems like he is playing the same roles over and over again. Just like his comedic partner in crime Will Ferrell was doing for awhile. They spit out all the weird random humor, and this time it was not pulled off.Anne Heche was beautiful, but thats about it. My favorite main character was Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s character Ronald Wilkes, who plays the straight-laced token black guy, but he gets more laughs then the two stars do. The film does have great cameos from Thomas Lennon, and Rob Corddry.Miguel Arteta has directed two other films that I have seen "The Good Girl" which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then there was "Youth In Revolt" which took me awhile to get into, but the last half of the film has funny moments, and now "Cedar Rapids" which was truly disappointing. I hope his next film is better. If anyone feels different about this film. Please let me know what you liked about it. Im curious to hear other peoples opinions. I give Cedar Rapids a 6 out of 10

Miniscule-town insurance agent Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) has cocooned himself from reality in a world of naive love and impregnable honesty. Self 'pre-engaged' to his former primary school teacher Macy Vanderhei (Sigourney Weaver) works for a company, which prides itself with consequently winning an award for best insurer. After the estranged death of his colleague, Lippe is forced to venture to the 'big-city' of Cedar Rapids to pitch for his company winning another trophy at a big convention. Released from his safe environment Lippe is thrown in with the sharks, such as the restrained African-American Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) and the obscene and in-your-face Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), both his roommates, or the seductive Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche). With his innocent charm Lippe manages to befriend the local prostitute Bree (Alia Shawkat) and soon becomes a focus of interest by both Ziegler and Ostrowski-Fox, both intent on 'deflowering' him in their own way...Thrown over some silly humour the cast fail to stir up any excitement, apart from the entertainment provided by Reilly spurting out crude gibberish with his crass, but endearing and well-meaning character. Somewhere in between I suppose a sense of social comedy was supposed to be afloat, let's say an odd coming-of-age story, but ultimately it just slowly drifts by failing to deliver some fire or captivate with quirky characters. The dialogue is rigidly awkward, probably intentionally, but the manner of narrative failed to appeal, instead dragging until the final credits.

Of course, there were the usual nice guy gone wild scenes, and stock happy ending, but this ensemble cast pulled it off brilliantly. There were many scenes in which I laughed out loud. I was disappointed in the scant use of Sigourney Weaver, however. Overall, a fun time was had by all who watched it. John C Reilly really made the movie. A true comedic actor. Ann Heche played a believable bored housewife out for her yearly fling. Good to see her again. Ed Helms played the perfect dork with a conscience. Isaiah Whitlock was solid, and I laughed at many of his scenes, but when they had him play a stereotype "black dude", it was kind of predictable, especially the reaction at the party in which everyone was "scared". Still, with all it's flaws I enjoyed it. Definitely re-able.