Loading ...Cedar Rapids (2011)
- IMDb page: Cedar Rapids (2011)
- Rate: 6.4/10 total 11,615 votes
- Genre: Comedy
- Release Date: 29 April 2011 (Ireland)
- Runtime: 87 min
- Filming Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Gross: $6,857,503(USA)(22 May 2011)
- Director: Miguel Arteta
- Stars: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly and Anne Heche
- Original Music By: Christophe Beck
- Soundtrack: Wild Mountain Nation
- Sound Mix: Dolby
- Plot Keyword: Convention | Cedar Rapids Iowa | Hotel | Underwear | Mooning
- Phil Johnston (written by)
Known Trivia
- Isiah Whitlock Jr.’s character Ronald Wilke references the character Omar from the TV show The Wire. He played the character State Sen. R. Clayton ‘Clay’ Davis on the TV series. According to Whitlock, the ‘Wire’ references were in the script before he was cast, and they decided to keep them in place as an in-joke for fans of both Whitlock and his former show.
- The hotel wedding that Tim and his friends crash is for two women. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the state of Iowa since April 3, 2009, when the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court’s ruling that there was no legitimate governmental interest in denying gay and lesbian Iowa citizens civil marriage licenses.
- Although originally intended to be shot on location, production was moved to Ann Arbor, MI when Iowa shuttered its film tax credit program.
Goofs: Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Dean Ziegler first enters the hotel, he yells to the desk staff to stock the mini-bar in his room, which he says is 1019, yet he, Tim and Ronald are staying in Room 112. However, it is possible that at the time Ziegler may not have known that he was being moved to a different room. Ziegler could have also just been saying nonsense just to get attention.
Plot: Tim Lippe has no idea what he's in for when he's sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an annual insurance convention, where he soon finds himself under the "guidance" of three convention veterans. Full summary » | »
Story: Tim Lippe (Helms) was the guy people always thought would go places but then he just … didn't. He's been living in über-sleepy Brown Valley, Wisconsin his whole life, still "pre-engaged" to his 7th grade teacher Macy Vanderhei (Weaver), while selling insurance to protect other people's dreams. But now, Tim's stalled life is about to get a kick-start because, for the first time in his 34 years, he's headed to a "major" metropolis – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – where he must try to save his company at a do-or-die insurance convention that, for him, will be entirely unconventional. From the minute he checks into his hotel with his ancient American Tourister and cummerbund money belt, it's clear Tim has no idea how the modern world really works. He is soon smitten with seductive Nebraskan insurance agent Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Heche) and awed by his experienced roommates…Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures
FullCast & Crew
Produced By:
- Brian Bell known as co-producer
- Jim Burke known as producer
- Ed Helms known as executive producer
- Alexander Payne known as producer
- Jim Taylor known as producer
- Ed Helms known as Tim Lippe
- John C. Reilly known as Dean Ziegler
- Anne Heche known as Joan Ostrowski-Fox
- Isiah Whitlock Jr. known as Ronald Wilkes
- Stephen Root known as Bill Krogstad
- Kurtwood Smith known as Orin Helgesson
- Alia Shawkat known as Bree
- Thomas Lennon known as Roger Lemke
- Rob Corddry known as Gary
- Mike O'Malley known as Mike Pyle
- Sigourney Weaver known as Macy Vanderhei
- Inga R. Wilson known as Gwen Lemke
- Mike Birbiglia known as Trent
- Seth Morris known as Uncle Ken
- Christopher Lemon known as Rock Climbing Dude #1
- Sudhi Rajagopal known as Rock Climbing Dude #2
- Chris DiAngelo known as Kurt Gambsky
- Lindsey Alexandra Hartley known as Pam Gambsky
- Welker White known as Dione Krogstad
- John Djurovski known as Bartender
- Charlie Sanders known as TSA Agent (as Charlie H. Sanders)
- Craig Janos known as Jack Nicholson Impersonator
- Tracey Maloney known as Flight Attendant
- Steve Blackwood known as Lindy
- Carl Harry Carlson known as Older Man
- Ken Wood known as Waiter (as Kenneth H. Wood)
- Lise Lacasse known as Lila
- James Howard Carr known as Swarthy Man
- David Rhoads known as Ball Pit Judge
- Bruce Giffin known as Photographer
- Teresa Yenque known as Maid
- Helen-Jean Arthur known as Church Lady
- Michael Tuba Heatherton known as Plate Spinner
- Leisa Pulido known as Talent Show MC
- Ed Jewett known as Bearded Dude
- Zackary Hamlin known as Clem
- Kimberly Moncrieff known as Small Woman
- Linda Riker known as Small Woman's Friend
- Michael Buie known as Brian Early
- Roz Music known as Lady
- Loit A. Maripuu known as Customer #3
- Bruce Lawson known as Customer #4
- Ian Minicuci known as Perry (Man in Wheelchair)
- Penny Gibbs known as ASMI Representative
- Victor Pytko known as Merle Huss
- Sandra Gittleson known as Sherri Fahrenkrug (as Sandy Gittleson)
- Richard L. Fox known as Hotel Employee
- John F. McCormick known as Dad
- Joanne McGee known as Mom
- Hayley Zeccardi known as Daughter
- Deidre Backs known as Pregnant Lesbian Bride (uncredited)
- Brian Bell known as Guy Falling Off Ladder (uncredited)
- Joshua Ray Bell known as Conventioneer (uncredited)
- Tim Craiger known as Church Attendant (uncredited)
- Johnny Flynn known as Bartender (uncredited)
- David Hutchison known as Tweeker #3 (uncredited)
- Kerri Kenney known as Woman Getting Off Plane (uncredited)
- Sydney Lumbert known as Kid in the Park (uncredited)
- Ralph H. Meyer known as Hot Dog Contest Judge (uncredited)
- Gary L. Minix known as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Morris Lee Sullivan known as Conventioneer (uncredited)
- Laurie Valko known as Core conventioneer (uncredited)
Supporting Department
Makeup Department:- Kristin Berge known as hair department head
- Dena Fayne known as key hair stylist (as Dena Fayne Stevens)
- Roz Music known as makeup department head
- Sherri Zebeck known as key makeup artist
- Mary Burton known as makeup artist: Sigourney Weaver (uncredited)
- Emilie Cockels known as assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
- Kevin J Edwards known as additional hair stylist (uncredited)
- Kimberly Jones known as makeup artist (uncredited)
- Vicki Vacca known as additional makeup artist (uncredited)
- Joy Zapata known as hair stylist: Sigourney Weaver (uncredited)
- Kurt Braun known as set dresser
- Albert Chen known as art department assistant
- Frank D. Dambra known as charge scenic
- Greg Gootsan known as assistant property master
- Michael Grady known as set dresser
- Carl Gratkowski known as set dresser
- Christopher Hosey known as illustrator
- Susanne King known as assistant property master
- Ellen Lampl known as illustrator
- Richard Lattuca known as set dresser
- Amie McCarthy known as property master (as Amie McCarthy-Winn)
- Keith Allan Miller known as set dresser
- Jarrette Moats known as art department coordinator
- Mike Monckton known as paint foreman (as Mike 'Monk' Monckton)
- Dean Neeb known as set dresser (as Dean P. Neeb)
- Lance Newton known as carpenter
- Matthew J. Norskog known as on-set dresser (as Matt J. Norskog)
- Tom Osman known as labor foreman
- Troy Osman known as construction coordinator
- Tyler Osman known as construction foreman
- Abe Sanders known as carpenter
- Phil Shirey known as leadman
- Paul Stevens known as art department assistant
- Tina Tottis known as set decoration buyer (as Tina Sanjian Tottis)
- David Brayman known as carpenter (uncredited)
- Anna Jones known as art department coordinator (uncredited)
- Robert Ludemann known as additional graphic artist (uncredited)
- Ian Miller known as art department (uncredited)
- David Scott known as graphic designer (uncredited)
- Brad Smith known as storyboard artist (uncredited)
- Tom Sparkman known as scenic artist (uncredited)
- Michael A. Watt known as set buyer (uncredited)
Companies
Production Companies:
- Ad Hominem Enterprises
Other Companies:
- ARRI / Camera Service Center camera equipment provided by
- City National Bank financing provided by
- Cookin' with Lenny catering
- David Haddad transportation equipment
- Dolby Laboratories sound mix
- Film Finances completion guarantor
- Gallagher Entertainment insurance
- Grace & Wild Studios Inc. duplication services
- Grace & Wild Studios Inc. equipment rental
- Haddad's transportation equipment
- Intelligent Media international monitoring agency
- Kayla Film Co. thanks
- Kind Services craft service
- L.A. Casting Group extras casting (Los Angeles)
- Line 3500 Studio Rentals transportation
- Paws for Effect animals provided by
- Sessions Payroll Management extras payroll services
- Soundelux post-production sound services
- Technicolor Creative Services digital intermediate (as Technicolor Hollywood)
Distributors:
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2011) (worldwide) (all media)
- Sea Movies (2011) (worldwide) (theatrical) (ship)
- Fox Searchlight Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox (2011) (France) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox of Germany (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
Other Stuff
Special Effects:
- Technicolor Hollywood (opticals)
- Level 256 (visual effects)
- Chris Chappell known as lead compositor: Level 256
- Scott M. Davids known as visual effects supervisor: Level 256 (as Scott Davids)
- Scott M. Davids known as visual effects technician (as Scott Davids)
- Anthony Hays known as roto artist: Level 256
- Adam Lima known as compositor: Level 256
- David B. Wilson known as compositor: Level 256
- USA 23 January 2011 (Sundance Film Festival)
- USA 11 February 2011 (limited)
- Ireland 29 April 2011
- UK 29 April 2011
- France 15 June 2011
- Italy 1 July 2011
- Germany 7 July 2011
- Spain 15 July 2011
- Poland 29 July 2011
- Argentina 24 August 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Brazil 1 September 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Hungary 21 September 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Netherlands 18 October 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Argentina 2 November 2011 (DVD premiere)
MPAA: Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and drug use
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Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
Cedar Rapids (2011) Related Movie
Movie Keyword:
- cedar rapids movie uncredited stephen root
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
Ed Helms (Andy in "The Office") stars as Tim Lippe, the most sheltered, naive mid-western insurance agent ever captured on film. Lippe lives and works in Brown Valley, Wisconsin … the most sheltered, naive mid-western town ever captured on film. His only real excitement is found through his "pre-engagement" to his 7th grade teacher played very well by Sigourney Weaver (probably the most worldly person in Brown Valley). When an embarrassing accident claims the life of the hot shot agent in Lippe's firm, the owner (Stephen Root) sends Lippe to the annual convention in Cedar Rapids. His mission is to win the coveted 2-Diamond Award presented by industry legend Orin Helgesson (a snippy Kurtwood Smith).
Since a lone character can't generate many laughs, circumstances at the convention cause Lippe to find himself roommates with a very noble Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock, Jr from "The Wire") and fast-talking poacher Dean Ziegler (John C Riley). These 3 are joined together by Nebraska agent Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche). Lippe is quickly introduced to the "real world" by his new friends and after the first 20 minutes of set-up, the lines and settings get funnier and funnier.
As with most comedies these days, the trailer gives away much more than it should; but, unlike most, it leaves plenty of laughs and situations for the film. What really makes this work is that all characters are actually pretty nice people … they are just a bit exaggerated in their traits. Lippe is a bit too naive. Wilkes is a bit too uptight. Ziegler is a bit too obnoxious, and Fox is just a little too lonely and adventurous. Still, their earnestness is what keeps the film grounded.
Mr. Helms is really a comic force. He has the extraordinary ability to never hold back or worry how that he might not look cool. Even as the lead character, he knows when scene-stealer John C Riley should have the spotlight. This is a tremendous asset for a comic.
I won't give away much, but will warn that some of the humor is crude … especially some of Riley's rapid-fire one-liners. If you prefer your humor to be grounded with real people, then you might want to check this one out. I have only previously known this director, Miguel Arteta, as the guy responsible for Jennifer Aniston's best screen performance ("The Good Girl"). Now I look forward to his next project.
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
Cedar Rapids is a quirky comedy about Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), a sheltered insurance salesman from Brown Valley, Wisconsin, who takes life far too seriously. He is sent by his firm to the Regional Annual Convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to try to win the prestigious two-star award. However, when Tim arrives, he makes some new friends and a whole new dimension to life including drugs, alcohol, one night stands and falling in love with a prostitute.
This isn't my usual fare when it comes to movies but I'm glad I took the time to watch it. Insurance is bland and this movie doesn't do anything to dispel that idea, but it does, in a rather unusual way, show us that insurance salesmen are people too.
The film centres around Ed Helms's almost virginal character but there are pivotal roles from John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jnr thrown into the mix. All four nail their characters so I did find myself caring for them, but less so for the main character, Tim Lippe, who at times I just wanted to slap.
There are some laugh out loud moments and there are other comical moments, but there are also moments where I felt embarrassed. It's obviously not a documentary so there is some leeway here for the characters to do unbelievable things, but sometimes it does feel a little ridiculous that a grown man can be so wet behind the ears as Tim.
Most of the story is set in the hotel where the convention takes place so I must admit I was glad when the film came to an end after less than 90 minutes. Some of the humour fell flat although that might be an American/ British thing.
Anyone expecting a major part for Sigourney Weaver will be disappointed as her role is minimal and most of it takes place in the first ten minutes.
The happy ending is welcome but Cedar Rapids seems to tread water rather than swim. On more than one occasion, I found myself feeling impatient for the story to develop.
The poor box office in the States and the poor attendance for a Saturday evening showing here in England can be put down to the subject matter and the lack of household names, but the film is undoubtedly missing a key ingredient that stops the whole thing from gelling.
I did say that I was glad I watched it, which is true, but I wouldn't watch it again. Oh, and by the way, it is worth staying to the end to watch the final credits because there are some interesting and funny moments that you'll miss otherwise.
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
Really wanted to like this film (I mean, look at the cast). It had an interesting premise, but after a while the lazy shortcuts the script took became too egregious to ignore.
(Commencing character spoilers now)
a) All of the specifically identified "religious" people turned out to be hypocrites who were either corrupt or foul-mouthed to an extreme when they didn't get what they wanted. Lazy, clichéd, been done to death.
b) About 2/3 thru the story, our hero ends up at a mid-western crack house, where he emotionally opens up after the most excellent catharsis provided by crack and cocaine. Incredibly lazy writing there, to say nothing of the philosophical prostitute with the implied heart of gold.
c) The paragon of integrity turns out to be the foul-mouthed drunken lout, the only person in touch enough with himself to be true and real, and helps our hero on the path to his real self.
You get the idea. What a waste of a good, talented, cast.
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
Seriously, someone read this script and decided to fund it? For what reason? The laughs simply aren't. Ed Helms may have been perfect for the Daily Show but he is not leading man material. His face isn't funny. His voice isn't funny. His mannerisms aren't funny. He just can't carry a movie, there's really nothing there.
We're supposed to believe that a 35+ year old insurance salesman is so non-worldly, he can't figure out what a prostitute is, yet he's busy in the opening scene with his elementary school teacher, Sigourney Weaver, who sleepwalks through her lines in obvious boredom. John C. Reilly unimaginatively plays the most obvious over-the-top crass salesman who checks all the boxes of this type of over worn character. The other actors fill their respective spaces, with Ann Heche being especially creepy.
Everything that happens is as predictable as sundown, no surprises at all. Oh my, Ed Helms doesn't do drugs, but here, he's going to…and we have to sit through that 15 minutes section of the movie. Golly, the head of the seminar is crooked…and we have to wait while that plays out letter-by-letter. Heavens, there's cursing and shock value lines as out of place as Stephen Hawking at a quinceañera. It seems as if it was written by a hayseed as clueless as the main character. Honestly, he reacts to a "black man" in his hotel room as if it was an outtake of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" that they scrapped because it was too stupid…in 1967.
Like a bad car wreck covered by yellow sheets, "move along people, there's nothing to see here!" I'd almost rather see a Matt Damon film.
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
I always wonder what would happen if these type of films, underrated comedies, got the same attention and recognition films like The Hangover and Pineapple Express got. Would we hear more quotes and references from these films? Would America have a different taste in humor? Would Cedar Rapids set the bar for newer comedies? It's all "would's" and "what if's." The plot: Naive insurance salesman Tim Lippe (Helms) is what some may call a "loser." He lives a quiet life, isn't the most social person, and sleeps with his old fourth grade teacher (Weaver). Tim has to attend an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, and this will be the first time he has flown or stayed in a hotel. He believes everyone will be as nice as back home, but in fact, everyone is different and the real-world will bite Tim in the rear.
Tim stays in a suite with three people;. He meets soft-spoken, quiet-man Ronald Wilkes (Whitlock Jr.). Loud-mouth, party animal Dean Ziegler (Reilly). And married, but sweet Joan (Heche). This group of new-friends are all after one thing; an award that the manager of the convention, (Smith), will give to one representative of their company.
This is one of those rare occasions where the characters are so sweet, so innocent, and so well-developed I want to just hug them. Each character is likable in their own way. Even Ziegler, who is not a victim of his simpleton self or his own stupidity like Alan from The Hangover, is a very serious and loving guy despite his hard-partying self.
Certain films, once again referring back to The Hangover, rely on antics to carry the comedy which is perfectly fine with me. But when the antics play like a "how-far-can-we-go-type-of-comedy" the result becomes a repetitive and unenjoyable comedy. Cedar Rapids has antics, but not antics just for the purpose of a cheap, gross-out laugh and that's what makes this gem stand out.
If 2011 doesn't offer any more hilarious comedies, which I highly doubt, The Art of Getting By, Bridesmaids, Cedar Rapids, Hall Pass, and Take Me Home Tonight proudly make 2011 one funny year.
Starring: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Kurtwood Smith, Stephen Root, Mike O'Malley, Sigourney Weaver , and Alia Shawkat. Directed by: Miguel Arteta.
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm
Ed Helms gets his first starring role as Tim Lippe, an insurance agent from Brown Valley, Wisc. who's never set foot out of his hometown and is even sleeping with his seventh grade teacher (Sigourney Weaver) to whom he's "pre-engaged." When the insurance company's golden boy dies of auto-erotic asphyxia (which Tim regularly refers to as "an accident"), Tim must represent the company at the annual ASMI conference in Cedar Rapids where he must win the coveted Two-Diamond award for excellence or it will cost the company dearly.
Helms nails the fish-out-of-water character using much of the same naiveté that made him a beloved addition to "The Office." Although in many instances his super-small-town mentality serves as a comedic ploy, it informs the way we watch the rest of the film, namely how he interacts with his new group of friends, characters that rather accurately represent the array of business types.
Tim first meets Ronald (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), the amicable by-the-books guy with who tells bland jokes and means well. Then John C. Reilly storms onto the scene as Dean Ziegler a.k.a "The Deanzy," the straight-shooting schmoozer with absolutely no filter and as such, the source of much of the laughs so long as you find humor in creative vulgarity. Last would of course be Joan, who jokes around about seducing Tim but behaves otherwise. Heche seems to have found the path many actresses looking to rebound have taken: playing a damaged middle-aged woman trying to feel things out.
Essentially these characters are grown-up children in much the same way that the "The Office" brings playground dynamics to the adult world. Team-building activities and getting drunk are just the beginning for what these characters do and consequently how they behave. For Tim, it's a long-delayed loss of innocence. He learns that even parts of his ho-hum life can have a two-faced nature; those people he believes to be bad end up good and vice versa.
Director Miguel Arteta ("Youth in Revolt") seems to show an adeptness at this kind of comedy, drawing performances from the cast that provide nuanced characterization and believability. A comedy about Midwestern insurance agents doesn't work if the people don't seem average, yet at the same time, the characters are far from dull.
"Cedar Rapids" mostly struggles as most indies do in finding a balance between comedy and poignancy. The over-the-top comedic elements seem to push away from the dramatic, which is the film's greater strength. There's plenty of humor to be had in the nature of the story to the point that a scene with Tim going over the edge and smoking crack with a prostitute doesn't seem essential to say the least. Tim's reactions to moral conundrums seem a bit exaggerated as well in terms of the writing.
The ending lacks a bit of zing, but the intentions of Phil Johnston's script are pure and true. His focus stays on a well-cast protagonist and Tim's attitudes help create the perspective shift that allows us to enter the characters' shoes. The results are light-hearted and not preachy in the least.
~Steven C
Visit my site at http://moviemusereviews.com
25 Nov 2011, 5:40 pm